DepEd urges thorough inspection of school buildings, facilities after quake
By AJ Siytangco
Published Apr 23, 2019 01:10 pm
By Merlina Hernando-Malipot
The Department of Education (DepEd) has ordered “thorough and immediate” inspection of school and office buildings and facilities following the magnitude 6.1 earthquake that hit Luzon on Monday afternoon.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
In a memorandum signed by DepEd Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del Pascua, regional directors, schools division superintendents, regional and division engineers and architects, regional and division disaster risk reduction management (DRRM) coordinators, and other concerned officials were instructed to immediately conduct a thorough inspection of schools and office facilities and buildings to ensure the safety of all personnel.
As per instructions from Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Education Secretary Leonor Briones, Pascua said that all principals, school heads, and teachers-in-charge are “instructed to undertake thorough investigation of all school buildings and facilities before allowing learners, teachers, and personnel to enter the same.”
Pascua also noted that all engineers and architects as well as DRMM coordinators at the central, regional, and division offices were also instructed to “lend support to all concerned in the determination of the structural integrity and safety of buildings and facilities in DepEd schools and offices” within 250 kilometers from Castillejos in Zambales, the epicenter of the earthquake.
Work suspended
Meanwhile, work is suspended in the NCR following Malacañang’s declaration. DepEd Undersecretary and Spokesperson Atty. Nepomuceno Malaluan said that while classes have already ended for School Year (SY) 2018-2019 on April 5, “there are still some school activities ongoing.” Given this, DepEd has already instructed the NCR regional director “to suspend” the said activities scheduled on April 23.
Briones also issued an office memorandum reiterating Malacañang’s announcement of work suspension in NCR signed on April 23. Citing a recommendation by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), she noted that work suspension in NCR will “ease up the load of the public transportation system.”
Work at the DepEd Central Office and also in the NCR public elementary and secondary schools were suspended and the concerned units were also instructed to “make the necessary adjustments in their scheduled activities.”
Briones reminded that all Executive Committee members and NCR regional director are “authorized to proceed only with urgent activities” provided that her office is informed “and that necessary measures to ensure safety are taken.”
Situational report
Based on the data provided by DepEd’s DRRMS, a total of three divisions (403 schools) have declared suspension of classes in Castillejos, Zambales.
As of April 23, DepEd said that there were nine schools that sustained damages in Region 3 (Lanukan National High School, Mabalcat Elementary School, Malusad ES, Pio ES, Camia High School, Subic Central ES, San Nicolas Integrated School, Sindalan ES), and the NCR (Cupang ES).
The damages range from collapsed perimeter fences to damaged pathways, school buildings, and corridors. In Cupang ES (Division of Muntilupa), DepEd said that “cracks were seen from the 2nd floor to the 4th floor in the Pagcor Building with 20 classrooms in total.”
Following the earthquake, DepEd said that it has directed the immediate inspection of schools and buildings, mobilized its DRRMS staff to monitor areas of responsibilities, communicated with DRRM coordinators for reports on infrastructure and non-infrastructure damages, consolidated schools with damages, and tracked regions and divisions with class suspension.
Meanwhile, DepEd also directed continued monitoring of the possible effects of the earthquake in Zambales. It also instructed provision of immediate assistance to ensure learning continuity (clean-up funds, temporary learning spaces, learning materials, hygiene kits, psychological first aid emergency feeding); conduct detailed assessment of damages for repair and construction, and continuous dissemination of situation reports to affected regions and divisions.
Read more: Strong 6.1 quake jolts Metro, Luzon
(MANILA BULLETIN)
In a memorandum signed by DepEd Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del Pascua, regional directors, schools division superintendents, regional and division engineers and architects, regional and division disaster risk reduction management (DRRM) coordinators, and other concerned officials were instructed to immediately conduct a thorough inspection of schools and office facilities and buildings to ensure the safety of all personnel.
As per instructions from Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Education Secretary Leonor Briones, Pascua said that all principals, school heads, and teachers-in-charge are “instructed to undertake thorough investigation of all school buildings and facilities before allowing learners, teachers, and personnel to enter the same.”
Pascua also noted that all engineers and architects as well as DRMM coordinators at the central, regional, and division offices were also instructed to “lend support to all concerned in the determination of the structural integrity and safety of buildings and facilities in DepEd schools and offices” within 250 kilometers from Castillejos in Zambales, the epicenter of the earthquake.
Work suspended
Meanwhile, work is suspended in the NCR following Malacañang’s declaration. DepEd Undersecretary and Spokesperson Atty. Nepomuceno Malaluan said that while classes have already ended for School Year (SY) 2018-2019 on April 5, “there are still some school activities ongoing.” Given this, DepEd has already instructed the NCR regional director “to suspend” the said activities scheduled on April 23.
Briones also issued an office memorandum reiterating Malacañang’s announcement of work suspension in NCR signed on April 23. Citing a recommendation by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), she noted that work suspension in NCR will “ease up the load of the public transportation system.”
Work at the DepEd Central Office and also in the NCR public elementary and secondary schools were suspended and the concerned units were also instructed to “make the necessary adjustments in their scheduled activities.”
Briones reminded that all Executive Committee members and NCR regional director are “authorized to proceed only with urgent activities” provided that her office is informed “and that necessary measures to ensure safety are taken.”
Situational report
Based on the data provided by DepEd’s DRRMS, a total of three divisions (403 schools) have declared suspension of classes in Castillejos, Zambales.
As of April 23, DepEd said that there were nine schools that sustained damages in Region 3 (Lanukan National High School, Mabalcat Elementary School, Malusad ES, Pio ES, Camia High School, Subic Central ES, San Nicolas Integrated School, Sindalan ES), and the NCR (Cupang ES).
The damages range from collapsed perimeter fences to damaged pathways, school buildings, and corridors. In Cupang ES (Division of Muntilupa), DepEd said that “cracks were seen from the 2nd floor to the 4th floor in the Pagcor Building with 20 classrooms in total.”
Following the earthquake, DepEd said that it has directed the immediate inspection of schools and buildings, mobilized its DRRMS staff to monitor areas of responsibilities, communicated with DRRM coordinators for reports on infrastructure and non-infrastructure damages, consolidated schools with damages, and tracked regions and divisions with class suspension.
Meanwhile, DepEd also directed continued monitoring of the possible effects of the earthquake in Zambales. It also instructed provision of immediate assistance to ensure learning continuity (clean-up funds, temporary learning spaces, learning materials, hygiene kits, psychological first aid emergency feeding); conduct detailed assessment of damages for repair and construction, and continuous dissemination of situation reports to affected regions and divisions.
Read more: Strong 6.1 quake jolts Metro, Luzon