By CESAR JOLITO III

Victorias City Mayor Abelardo Bantug III has directed a full structural reassessment of public and private schools in the city following reports of progressive cracks and possible damage linked to the recent 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Bogo City in Cebu province.

During a coordination meeting on Thursday, October 16, Bantug convened local officials and emergency response teams to finalize the deployment of three reassessment groups tasked to re-evaluate school structures for safety and stability.

The move came after the City Schools Division Office formally requested the city government’s assistance due to mounting safety concerns observed after a series of aftershocks.

“We are prioritizing the safety of our students and teachers. No classroom should be used until we are certain it is structurally sound,” Bantug emphasized during the meeting.

The committee on disaster reduction and resiliency and members of the Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) team collaborated in the planning and deployment process.

The reassessment aims to verify the initial findings of the RDANA conducted last October 1; identify any progression of cracks or new structural issues; determine which facilities require immediate repair, reinforcement, or closure; and formulate engineering recommendations for long-term safety measures.

A total of 14 schools were listed for inspection, including Victorias National High School, Victorias Elementary School, Cuaycong National High School, and Gawahon Integrated School, among others.

The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office assured that the teams are conducting inspections “with urgency and technical precision” and will submit a consolidated report to the Schools Division Office for prompt action.

“Preparedness and vigilance are key. We want to ensure that our learning spaces remain safe havens for our students, not potential hazards,” Bantug said./CJ, WDJ