Buhisan captain criticizes Cebu City for delayed school repairs

The barangay captain of Buhisan, Gremar Barete, has publicly criticized Cebu City's government for not acting on requests for school repairs. His comments come after Buhisan Elementary School was declared in a state of emergency due to safety concerns. During a media interview on March 19, he expressed frustration over the city's sudden inspection and the closure of the principal's office. Barete claimed that the school has needed repairs since the 2013 earthquake. Despite numerous requests, the local school board has not taken action. He pointed out that the situation had been serious for a long time, and now the closure has been announced just before the school vacation. The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office recently cordoned off the principal's office due to worsening structural issues. Barete argued that the cracks in the building were primarily due to a nearby tree and insisted that a total shutdown was not necessary. He also criticized the government for failing to find alternative schooling options for students during the closure. Additionally, Barete highlighted stalled negotiations for a potential new site for the school. A 5,000-square-meter lot was offered to the city in 2019, but no action has been taken to finalize the purchase. He expressed disbelief at the city's proposed purchase price, which has drastically dropped since 2019. He also accused city officials of bypassing the barangay in discussions about the state of emergency declaration. Barete believes that he should have been included in meetings regarding the issue. Despite the challenges, Barete remains committed to finding a solution for the students. He urged the city government to accelerate the land acquisition process and collaborate with the barangay for a smooth transition. Meanwhile, an engineer confirmed structural concerns at the school, recommending that the principal's office be vacated, and ideally, all students should be relocated to avoid risk. Due to upcoming severe weather, in-person classes at Buhisan Elementary School will be suspended starting March 20. The principal has assured that learning will continue through alternative methods, such as modular-distance learning. The Cebu City Council has ratified the declaration of a state of emergency, enabling the use of local disaster funds for further assessments and improvements to the school's drainage and emergency systems.