DedEd asked to check structural defects
PTA SAYS SCHOOL BUILDING UNSAFE
BAYAMBANG—Parents and teachers of Bayambang Central School have asked Education Secretary Armin Luistro to send engineers to inspect the school building and certify if the building is still safe for occupancy after cracks on the walls and ceiling beams appeared in a number of classrooms in the newly built school on Magsaysay Street.
In a letter dated Feb. 20, the petitioners led by Filipinas Alcantara, president of Parents Teachers Association (PTA), it said they “are terrified for the safety and very lives of the 2,013 pupils and 56 teaching and non-teaching personnel of Bayambang Central School, and the unaccounted number of parents who come to the relocation site of the school and patiently wait for their children”.
“We are in danger. Our children are in danger, “the letter said.
A check by a group of reporters Monday confirmed the appearance of wide cracks on some of the walls.
Evangeline Ferrer, teacher of Grade 3 Section1 said she transferred her class to another area in the school last Monday for the safety of her pupils. The classroom beside Ferrer’s room also showed cracks in concrete beams.
The school’s relocation in October 2013 became controversial amid protests that resulted in a court case between the local government that claims ownership of the old school site in Poblacion and Department of Education Pangasinan 1 officials and school authorities.
A land swap deal was allegedly made between the local government unit and businessman Willy Chua who owns the new school ground.
School Principal Corazon Cayabyab said she allowed Ferrer to transfer to another classroom. Meanwhile, four other classrooms can be used as relocation areas if three others affected would be ordered vacated upon the recommendation of the municipal engineer, Cayabyab said.
She said she was not furnished copy of inspection report of the municipal engineer on the result of their inspection last week.
Eddie Melicorio, municipal engineer, said “the problem could be due to splicing of rebars”.
“Corrective measures, for me is to demolish the beams where there are cracks ,” he said. “It’s repairable. Not all construction is perfect,” he added.
In his unsigned report/letter dated Feb. 17 addressed to Chua, Melicorio cited other defects in the newly constructed school building, i.e., “damaged /cracked/ sagged concrete beam, classroom Grade III section A under Madam Evangeline Ferrer”.
He recommended that four classrooms be vacated.
He said a hairline crack as a result of temperature would not pose a danger but the cracks in the building could not considered as “temperature cracks.’
“Anna Mae”, 9, grade 3 pupil said her teacher had warned her class last Friday not to go to the second floor because it’s dangerous because of the cracks.
The old school site, meanwhile, was repaired through the initiative of the PTA and with help coming from different concerned sectors. But the return to the old school site is still uncertain due to the pending court case. (Tita Roces)
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