The Bacolod City government yesterday deployed five teams to inspect the condition of structures in 40 elementary and secondary schools across the city following the series of strong earthquakes in the past two weeks.

Mayor Greg Gasataya has ordered the suspension of classes in all public schools for two days starting Monday, October 13, to give way to the conduct of the rapid damage assessment and needs analysis (RDANA).

The RDANA is being jointly conducted by the City Engineer’s Office, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and Office of the Building Official, and upon the recommendation of the Department of Education – Division of Bacolod City.

It initially showed that some school buildings had minor damage, while some have extensive damage.

“One building at Crispino V. Ramos Elementary School has been vacated after the structure was found unsafe during the inspection,” Gasataya said.

He said the school would adopt a double-shift system to accommodate the learners from the damaged building in other classrooms.

On September 30, the magnitude 6.9 earthquake with an epicenter in Bogo City, Cebu was strongly felt in Bacolod, while light shaking was also experienced here during the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that jolted Davao Oriental on October 10.

Past 1:00 a.m. on October 13, the magnitude 5.8 tremor that rocked Cebu was also felt in the city. (PNA)