• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Several universities in Bacolod will shift to online classes today, Oct. 1, while many local government units in Negros Occidental canceled classes at all levels, both public and private, to do safety checks following the 6.9 magnitude earthquake in Cebu last night that was also felt in the city and province.
The University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos said in an advisory that “the Office of the University President orders the closure of the campus tomorrow (Oct. 1) for inspection to ensure the safety of everyone. Classes in all levels will be conducted online.”
The University of St. La Salle, meanwhile, said that classes in the higher education unit on Oct. 1 “will shift to online synchronous modality with option to hold asynchronous learning in areas with power disruptions. As a precautionary measure, safety checks will also be conducted on campus”.
NU Bacolod will also shift to online classes via synchronous learning “to allow for a thorough building maintenance and safety inspection.”
La Consolacion College Bacolod and the Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod (CSA-B) will also conduct thorough safety campus inspections.
“Upon the recommendation of the school’s General Services Office, the CSA-B is temporarily suspending on-site classes and office operations Oct. 1 to allow for the rapid safety inspection of all campus structures and utilities,” its advisory said.
Local government units in Negros Occidental that also suspended classes in all levels, both public and private, as of press time, include Bacolod City, Victorias City, Sagay City, Escalante City, Silay, Bago City, Manapla, E.B. Magalona, Toboso, Murcia, and Kabankalan City.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, in its Earthquake Information No. 2 issued 11:07 p.m., said that a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Cebu at 9:59 p.m. Sept. 30, with the City of Bogo as epicenter.
Per the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Intensity VI was felt in Murcia and Manapla; Intensity V in Bacolod City, San Carlos, Toboso, Moises Padilla, San Enrique, Hinigaran, Isabela, Calatrava, Himamaylan, and Silay;
Intensity IV in Cadiz, Bago, Ilog, Kabankalan, La Castellana, Cauayan, Pontevedra, Sagay, and Valladolid; and Intensity I in Sipalay and Hinobaan.
Phivolcs also reported intensities in other areas in Panay, Negros Oriental, and Central and Eastern Visayas.
The NGCP, on the other hand, said it was still assessing the extent of the damage brought about by the earthquake that “caused the separation of Leyte, Samar, and portion of Bohol grid from the Cebu-Negros-Panay grid.”
As of 11 p.m., the NGCP identified damage to its Daanbantayan Substation, located near the earthquake epicenter, and recorded the tripping of four 230kV transmission lines in the Visayas.
The Northern Negros Electric Cooperative Inc. also said the Cadiz–VMC and Cadiz–Escalante 69kV transmission lines have tripped off, resulting in power interruption in the affected areas.
The Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative likewise reported the tripping of the 69kV line protection relay of the NGCP Buenavista Substation. Areas affected included portion of Himamaylan City, and whole of Binalbagan, Hinigaran, Isabela, Magallon, and La Castellana, and portion of La Carlota City
The Negros Power also said that, as of 12:20 a.m., power was restored at Bacolod – Silay 69KV Line, but the Lopez Feeder 1 remains offline due to a detached pin insulator and flat brace. | CGC
