Village chief questions city’s handling of Buhisan school relocation

Local

THE barangay captain of Buhisan has questioned the Cebu City government’s handling of the relocation of Buhisan Elementary School.

Gremar Barete cited long-standing issues with funding commitments and property procurement delays.

The controversy comes after the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) declared a state of emergency at the school on March 18, following concerns over structural stability.

The agency has cordoned off the principal’s office due to visible cracks in the foundation on Wednesday, March 19.

Barete, however, explained that the situation has been ongoing for years, with the school’s structural integrity becoming a concern as early as 2013, following a major earthquake.

He criticized the local school board for failing to act despite repeated requests for repairs.

“Dugay na kaayo na nga situation after pa na sa 2013 nga linog. Dugay ra kaayo na girequest nga i-repair ang eskwelahan pero ang local school board wala gyud gipaayo,” Barete said.

He further argued that the cracks were caused primarily by tree roots that expanded over time and that the problem could have been addressed earlier with proper intervention.

He opposed the abrupt evacuation order without a clear relocation plan for students.

“Before unta mi mag-declare ug state of emergency, gi-invite ang kapitan para mo-convene sa disaster response. Dapat naa pod ang LGU, dili kay sila-sila ray naghimo ug resolution,” he added.

Moreover, Barete questioned the city’s failure to fulfill its commitment to acquire a 5,000-square-meter property that had been offered for sale in 2019 as a relocation site for the school.

He said he personally negotiated with the landowner and even committed to purchasing the right-of-way for road access to facilitate the project.

“Ang city, asa naman ang commitment? Ako, napalit na nako ang road right-of-way ug ongoing na ang tulay, pero sila, wala gyud mo-tuman,” he said.

He claimed that former mayors Tomas Osmeña and the late Edgardo Labella had previously approved the land purchase at P5,750 per square meter based on prevailing market rates. However, the city government recently reassessed the value at only P500 per square meter, leading to a deadlock in negotiations.

“Makapalit paba diay karong panahona ug P500 per square meter? Ang tag-iya, musugot diay ug ibaligya na sa maong kantidad?” he questioned.

Barete added that similar properties in nearby Sapangdaku in Cebu City had been acquired for P8,000 per square meter.

While Engineer Jonathan Tumulak of the Department of Engineering. and Public Works (DEPW) maintained that the school was unsafe and that evacuation should proceed immediately, Barete urged for a more measured approach.

He argued that only certain sections of the school were at risk and that a complete shutdown would unnecessarily disrupt students' education.

“For me, dili necessary nga whole area ang atong tan-awon. Asa lang ang precautionary area kaysa ibalhin tanan,” he said.

He further lamented that the barangay was excluded from key discussions on disaster response and relocation planning, leaving them with no control over decisions that affect their community.

“With all due respect sa MGB [Mines and Geosciences Bureau], naa na man gyud sila’y data and recommendation. Pero kinahanglan ta og lain pang options,” Barete said.(TGP)