Mayor Greg Gasataya has ordered the resumption of classes in all public schools today, Oct. 15, after results of the Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) declared all public schools in Bacolod “safe for occupancy”.
A total of 49 public schools were simultaneously inspected by composite teams composed of personnel from the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO), City Engineer’s Office (CEO), Office of the Building Official (OBO), and the Department of Education (DepEd), Oct. 13 and 14.
Several classrooms were reported to have sustained minor to major structural damage following the series of tremors felt in Bacolod.
Based on the findings of the five inspection teams tasked to conduct the RDANA, some of the observed defects were old damage that may have been aggravated by the quakes.
Through the RDANA, the CEO and DepEd developed a color-tagging system to identify and monitor the structural condition of public school buildings across Bacolod.
CEO officer-in-charge, Engr. Loben Ceballos, said that Green indicates schools that are safe for occupancy; Yellow signifies those requiring minor to major repairs or partial restrictions; and Red identifies structures deemed unsafe for public use.
“This list will serve as our database to guide future planning and development toward building safer school facilities in the city,” Ceballos stressed in a city press release.
Per the assessment, 38 schools were classified under the Green category, showing no structural threats or only minor issues, while seven schools were tagged under the Yellow category, meaning they are safe for partial occupancy but require repairs.
Four schools need further inspection and assessment, the city said, adding that “no schools were classified under the Red category, or unsafe for occupancy, according to the joint evaluation by city engineers and building officials.”
The inspections were undertaken on orders of Gasataya to ensure the safety and structural integrity of school facilities after the magnitude 5.8 earthquake that struck Bogo City Oct. 13.
He had ordered the suspension of classes last Monday and Tuesday, as a precautionary measure.
“There’s a need to finish the inspection so we can make the necessary decisions. We are focusing on public schools because private schools have their own safety officers to conduct facility inspections,” the mayor said.
He also announced that an annual inspection of all government buildings will now be conducted as part of the city’s proactive safety measures.
“We have decided to conduct annual inspections, not just for classrooms but for all government facilities, to ensure the integrity of public infrastructure,” he added.
Gasataya also encouraged the public to report any visible damage to school buildings or other public structures for proper assessment and action. ||
