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CEBU CITY, Philippines - While most public schools in Cebu City have cleaned up classrooms and school grounds in preparation for the start of classes on Tuesday, one school in Cebu City will have to continue using its old, dilapidated school building that was ordered evacuated last year after being badly damaged by a flood.
The Baksan Elementary School in Barangay (village) Sapangdaku is perched dangerously on a riverbank. But students will have to use the school building this year because the city government is having problems finding a relocation site.
In Sapangdaku, only one lot has been identified as a possible site where the school could be transferred, said Councilor Gerardo Carillo.
However, the city is having a hard time tracking down the lot owner, delaying negotiations.
Carillo said there were no other places in the barangay that would suit the requirements of the Department of Education (DepEd) for a new school.
Some requirements are that a lot should be at least 5,000 square meters in size and accessible by the road.
The lot that the city government is eyeing, whose owner was identified only as “Atillo,” is the only lot larger than 5,000 square meters in Sapangdaku, Carillo said.
If all means of contacting the owner is exhausted, or if Atillo refuses to negotiate, Carillo said the city will be forced to expropriate the lot.
The lot is close to the Sapangdaku barangay hall.
The Baksan Elementary School was struck by floodwaters last year, destroying part of the school building, books and computers.
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña ordered the school evacuated after the flood.
Apart from Baksan, other public schools in need of rehabilitation are Sinsin High School, Buot Taup Elementary School and the Buhisan Elementary School, among others.
Sinsin barangay Captain Jun Ylaya said the floors of the high school building need rehabilitation. Otherwise, the school is ready for the start of classes on Tuesday, he said.
The DepEd's Brigada Eskwela helped repaint the school during summer, Ylaya said.
Brigada Eskwela is the education department's program to encourage teachers, parents and students prepare the school for the opening of classes.
The city government also created its own Balik Eskwela program, aimed to ensure that schools are safe for students. City authorities recently inspected schools to make sure these are suitable for students’ use.
Balik Eskwela also included inspecting establishments surrounding schools.
As part of the program, the city government will deploy police, traffic enforcers, and members of the Barangay Intelligence Network (BIN) near schools.
Over 2,000 BIN members will be fielded in and around schools to help in crime-prevention programs, said Senior Inspector Aileen Recla.
Recla, chief of intelligence of the Cebu City Police Office, said BIN members would especially be on the lookout for gangs who may try to recruit new members.
Recla said BIN members will also be keeping an eye out for snatchers or robbers who may take advantage of the opening of school.
BIN members will also assist police in checkpoints and patrols.
BIN members will be dressed in uniform shirts or the uniforms of the police unit they are attached to make them easily identifiable.
Recla said the assistance of BIN members started last week when they helped clean schools.
“BIN members don’t just join in making arrests, but also render community services,” Recla said. “They even help implement barangay feeding programs.”
