SEVENTEEN out of 97 inspected government buildings in Davao City were declared unsafe for occupancy.
In a press briefing Wednesday afternoon, November 6, Davao City councilor and committee chair on public works and highways Edgar Ibuyan Jr. bared the list of public establishments that are considered unsafe for occupancy based on their recent inspection.
The 17 buildings are the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT), City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) building, Toril Public Market (Old Building), Sta. Ana National High School, Dalagdag National High School (a two-story DPWH project), 2nd building of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Barangay Hall of Brgy. Mudiang, Mudiang National High School, Mudiang Elementary School, Duterte National High School, Doña Soledad Dolor Elementary School, Talomo National High School, Sixto Babao National High School, Armed Forces of the Philippines Learning Center (AFPLC) in Panacan, Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School, Congressman Manuel M. Garcia Elementary School, and Agdao Elementary School.
Ibuyan said cracks and other manifestations of damage were found in these establishments and some were recommended for immediate repairs.
Other establishments were also recommended for demolition or retrofitting such as the Toril Public Market.
He said they have advised administrators of schools not to use those buildings that sustained cracks.
“The administrators were informed nga di na gamiton. They were informed nga katong not safe nga building of the school and offices upon assessment nga kinahanglan og repair (Administrators were informed not to use the unsafe buildings and offices that need repair),” he said, citing the Sta. Ana National High School whose Grade 9 building is unsafe for occupancy. Based on their report, the Grade 9 building was leaning to the Grade 12 building.
On Tuesday, November 5, the Department of Education (DepEd) in Davao Region has accounted for a total of 440 damaged classrooms due to earthquakes and most of these are from Davao del Sur.
In a phone interview with SunStar Davao, DepEd spokesperson Jenielito Atillo quoted DepEd-Davao director Evelyn Fetalvero to have ordered all schools to ensure the safety of their buildings before resuming their classes.
“The regional director gave a directive to all school heads or principals that they have to ensure that all buildings were assessed by their respective structural engineers by the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) or private engineers before declaring the resumption of classes,” Atillo said. (With a report from Ralph Llemit)