Bacolod city: The city government has initiated the deployment of five teams to evaluate the structural integrity of buildings in 40 elementary and secondary schools following recent earthquakes that have affected the area over the past two weeks.

According to Philippines News Agency, Mayor Greg Gasataya has mandated the suspension of classes in all public schools for two days starting Monday. This pause in educational activities is to facilitate the comprehensive rapid damage assessment and needs analysis (RDANA). The RDANA is a collaborative effort involving the City Engineer’s Office, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and the Office of the Building Official, with guidance from the Department of Education – Division of Bacolod City.

Preliminary findings from these assessments indicate that while some school buildings have only minor damage, others have sustained more significant structural issues. Mayor Gasataya pointed out that one building at Crispino V. Ramos Elementary School was deemed unsafe and has been vacated. As a temporary measure, the school plans to implement a double-shift system to ensure that students from the affected building can continue their education in other available classrooms.

The urgency of these assessments is underscored by the series of seismic events experienced in the region. On September 30, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake with an epicenter in Bogo City, Cebu, was strongly felt in Bacolod. This was followed by a magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Davao Oriental on October 10, which also caused noticeable shaking in Bacolod. Most recently, a magnitude 5.8 tremor originating from Cebu was felt in the city on October 13.