A RECENT survey showed that 169 public schools in Davao City have no reliable water supply system.

"These schools have either shallow well, rain water facility or no water facilities at all," said Department of Education (DepEd)-Southern Mindanao spokesperson Lorenzo Mendoza.

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Education officials in the region conducted recently a survey on the public schools’ water system based on Education Secretary Jesli Lapus’s order to make sure that schools in Davao Region have ample water supply for hand washing as a preventive measure against the spread of influenza A (H1N1) virus.

According to the survey results, eight schools in Tagum City have no reliable water supply system. In Panabo, there were two, while Davao del Norte has 72. Davao del Sur, meanwhile, has 118; Davao City - 169; Igacos - 2; and Davao Oriental with Mati - 28.

Mendoza said these figures exclude that of Digos City, which has yet to submit its report.

Davao City has a total of 285 elementary and 66 high schools. Meaning, almost 50 percent have no reliable water supply.

Mendoza said these are schools in the areas of Tugbok, Piedad, Marilog, General Roxas, Calinan, Paquibato, Malabog, Buhangin, and Bunawan—upland areas known to be outside the reach of the water pipes of the Davao City Water District.

Mendoza said the immediate solution arrived at was for the school officials to arrange the fetching of water from the nearest potable source.

Classes opened Wednesday despite the threat of H1N1, with school and health authorities partnering in putting up measures to prevent schoolchildren from catching it. (GLP)