By CESAR JOLITO III
Bacolod City and the cities of Bago and Talisay in Negros Occidental suspended classes at all levels in both public and private schools yesterday as precautionary measures following a magnitude 5.8 earthquake that struck northern Cebu shortly after 1:00 a.m.
The quake, initially recorded by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) at magnitude 6 before being downgraded to 5.8, was felt at Intensity 2 to 3 across several areas in Negros Occidental.
Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya announced the class suspension upon the recommendation of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO).
He emphasized that the move was a preventive measure while authorities assess the safety of school structures.
“We encourage schools to shift to modular distance learning and performance-based tasks to ensure that learning continues without compromising safety,” Gasataya said.
He also directed the City Engineer’s Office, DRRMO and the Office of the Building Official to conduct rapid damage assessment and needs analysis in all government schools, in coordination with the Department of Education and respective school administrators.
In nearby localities, Bago Mayor Mayette Javellana and Talisay Mayor Rowena Lizares, likewise, ordered the suspension of face-to-face classes in both public and private schools.
“This is a precautionary step to ensure the safety of students, teachers and school personnel,” the mayors said in separate statements.
According to Phivolcs, the earthquake’s epicenter was located about 10 kilometers southwest of Bogo City in Cebu province, with a depth of 15 kilometers.
The tremor was tectonic in origin, indicating movement along fault lines.
Authorities in Negros Occidental have not reported any major damage or injuries as of press time, but local disaster councils remain on alert for possible aftershocks.
City engineers and disaster response teams across the affected areas continue to inspect public infrastructure and school buildings to ensure structural integrity before the resumption of classes./CJ, WDJ