Cebu City fast-tracks Buhisan school relocation

Local

THE Cebu City government has expedited efforts to acquire a relocation site for Buhisan Elementary School following safety concerns raised by disaster and engineering officials.

However, election-related restrictions could delay the finalization of the purchase.

Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia confirmed on Monday, March 24, that the city government had forwarded the matter to the appraisal committee to secure a new location for the school, which has been declared a disaster risk area due to structural vulnerabilities.

“We discovered nga in 2019 pa diay ni gisugdan unta ug pangita ug relocation and there was already an offer back in 2019 sa panahon ni former mayor Labella,” Garcia said.

He added that the city’s appraisal committee, which includes the assessor, accountant, treasurer, and planning officers, will determine the fair value of the proposed 4,000- to 5,000-square-meter lot behind Barangay Hall, which has been identified as the most suitable relocation site.

While Garcia emphasized the urgency of the project, he acknowledged potential delays due to the election spending ban.

“Dili ko makaingon when will be the definitive start ani because we all know there will be an election ban and we cannot disburse any amount…But hopefully this will be after elections or even before June 30 ato ni mahuman ug ma-finalize ang pagpalit ug procure ani nga yuta para sa atong eskwelahan,” he said.

He assured that the city has a budgetary allocation under the Local School Board’s mandatory education fund, which covers the construction of buildings and land procurement.

“This is already a green light kay padung na gud sa appraisal committee so green light na siya,” he said.

Previously, Buhisan Barangay Captain Gremar Barete criticized the city’s sudden evacuation order, citing the school’s long-standing structural issues that could have been addressed through repairs.

He also questioned the reassessed land value of P500 per square meter—far lower than the previous P5,750 agreement—and lamented the barangay’s exclusion from disaster response and relocation planning.

On March 19, the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Office cordoned off the principal's office due to worsening cracks in its riprap foundation.

This followed the March 18 declaration of a state of emergency at Buhisan Elementary School by the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council due to ground cracks and unstable foundations.

Buhisan Elementary School, which serves 724 students, has shifted to blended and modular learning, depending on weather conditions.

However, Dr. Salustiano Jimenez, regional director of the Department of Education Central Visayas, acknowledged that while they do not want face-to-face classes to be compromised, especially with the school year nearing its end, they are willing to submit to the recommendations of local officials.(TGP)