THE Mines and Geosciences Bureau in Central Visayas (MGB 7) has advised relocating Buhisan Elementary and Night High School, which has over 700 students, in upland Cebu City due to the risk of landslides that could cause significant damage.
The bureau issued the recommendation after conducting a geohazard assessment in response to reports from school officials about cracks in the school grounds and the walls of a three-storey school building, which was built on an uphill portion of the area.
Ramil Ayuman, chairman of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC), told SunStar Cebu on Friday, March 14, 2025, that based on MGB 7’s findings, they immediately asked the City Engineer’s Office under the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) and the Office of the Building Official (OBO) to conduct a structural analysis of the site.
Causes of problem
Jonathan Tumulak of the DEPW said after their inspection on Friday, they observed cracks on the ground and walls, as well as a hollowed-out area beneath one building, which could indicate an imminent collapse.
Tumulak, an engineer, said the problem stems from the absence of proper infrastructure support, such as canals and drainage systems, which could have helped control surface runoff during heavy rains.
He explained that the uncontrolled flow of rainwater has likely weakened the soil and the riprap supporting the school.
“Dili gyud ni medyo, dangerous gyud ni sa occupants (This is really dangerous for occupants),” Tumulak said.
Tumulak recommended relocating the school to a safer area while city engineers assess possible retrofitting works for the existing structure, which might take two to three months based on the initial assessment.
“If the City Government has a lot near the school, it would be better to construct a new school on flat ground so the students won’t have difficulty climbing to Buhisan Elementary School,” Tumulak said in Cebuano.
Findings
MGB 7 conducted the inspection last Feb. 10, after Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head Anderson Comar requested an evaluation of the site.
The MGB 7 report states that the school facility is located on rugged terrain with an elevation of 60 meters above sea level, along the sloping mountain bordering the Kinalumsan River valley. The ground is composed of weak rock layers such as mudstone, shale, conglomerate and limestone, making the area highly susceptible to erosion and landslides, especially during extreme weather.
The report notes that cracks were found in the three-story building that houses classrooms for Grades 1, 2 and 3, and the principal’s office.
The concrete stairs of the building had also shifted by about one to two centimeters from the wall during the 2013 Bohol earthquake. Visible ground cracks beneath the beams in the principal’s office measured one to two meters in length.
MGB 7 also identified the school’s location as highly susceptible to landslides in its latest flood and landslide susceptibility map of Cebu City.
It concluded that the cracks were caused by the area’s natural terrain, soil composition, and slope modifications.
In 2024, a portion of the building’s flooring detached and fell downslope after heavy rainfall.
The Cebu City Local School Board installed a landslide-mitigating structure to stabilize the soil and prevent further subsidence, while the Parent-Teacher Association built a ramp to improve accessibility.
MGB 7 said water had seeped into the weathered rocks and soil, increasing pore pressure, weakening the slope’s stability, and causing tension cracks that led to the collapse.
Based on its findings, MGB 7 recommended that experts assess the slope and existing protections to determine necessary safety measures. It also advised against further development in landslide-prone areas and called for the installation of proper drainage systems, warning signs and restricted access to ensure safety.
If risks persist, MGB 7 said relocating the school to a safer site remains the best solution. / EHP