As local government units in some areas call for a ‘pause’ from face-to-face schooling amid serial disasters and spreading viral infections, can the ‘break’ be used to check the structural integrity of schools?
This question was raised on Tuesday after the Department of Education (DepEd) gave an initial assessment of how much it would cost to repair and rebuilds public schools damaged by recent earthquakes in the south: P4 billion.
Senator Bam Aquino questioned whether public schools can withstand strong earthquakes, and will file a resolution seeking to assess the readiness of public school buildings across the country in the event of strong earthquakes, following recent tremors in various areas.
It’s important to know how ready and structurally strong our schools are when severe earthquakes strike, for the students, teachers, parents and people who work in schools,’ said Aquino, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, speaking mostly in Filipino.
Aquino emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety and structural integrity of school buildings, especially after the admission of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Assistant District Engineer Brice Hernandez that all infrastructure projects in Bulacan from 2019 to the present were substandard, including classrooms.
‘Kapag ang pondo sa mga paaralan ay kinurakot at binudol, pinapahamak ang mga estudyante sa bagyo at lindol. Huwag nating isugal ang buhay ng ating mga kababayan Mas mabuting matiyak ang kahandaan at kaligtasan ng ating mga school building laban sa mga pagyanig,’ he stressed.
[If funds meant for schoolbuildings are stolen and shortcuts used, students are put at risk from storms and quakes. Let’s not gamble with the lives of our people. It’s better to make sure that school buildings are ready for disasters]. Aquino added that he will push for an additional budget for the inspection and assessment of public school buildings to ensure their structural integrity.
Aside from examining the structural soundness and safety of public school buildings, Aquino said his planned probe will also look into the extent of the damage caused by recent earthquakes and the measures being implemented by concerned agencies to ensure that affected schools can safely resume classes.
The inquiry will also tackle measures to strengthen disaster preparedness and resilience in schools, including regular safety inspections, the regular conduct of earthquake drills and evacuation protocols, and the placement of earthquake emergency kits.
‘Ang ating mga paaralan ay dapat maging ligtas na kanlungan sa oras ng sakuna, hindi karagdagang panganib. Panahon na para tiyaking matatag at handa ang ating mga estudyante at mga guro sakaling tumama ang malakas na lindol,’ he pointed out.
[Our schools should be havens for safety in times of disasters, not additional sources of danger. It’s time to make sure they stay strong for our learners and teachers in case a strong quake strikes.]