Davide Points to LGUs over ‘Unrepaired’ Classrooms

● “If the works were only done during the summer, this would have been completed before the classes started last week”

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III on Monday sets responsibility to local government units (LGU) for failure to repair classrooms, saying if the works were only done during the summer, this would have been completed before the classes started last week.

“This should have been done earlier. Taas man kaayo ang summer unta, mao man unta na’ng time to fix earlier para ma-ready na,” said Davide in a press conference at his office at the Capitol on yesterday.

Reports had it that school children who are attending classes in open tents and even under the trees are exposed to direct heat and possibly rain when the rainy season arrives.

But the governor said he also understood that these LGUs had so much in their hands after typhoon Yolanda left them heavily damaged.

Davide appealed to affected students and teachers to make do with tents as some of the damaged school buildings would have to undergo repairs soon.

“Mintras tanto, mag-antos lang sa ang mga estudyante, mga maestro sa tents lang una,” he said, while adding that the Capitol is willing to add more tents to students who are reportedly attending classes under the trees.

Meanwhile, Davide appealed to the Department of Education to hasten the rehabilitation works.

“We appeal to DepEd nga paspasan ang pag-repair sa buildings. The province is ready to help DepEd, extend financial assistance,” he said.

Davide asked the public to be patient as the construction work “takes time,” and everything undergoes a procedure, of which includes the bidding process before the actual construction.

He said the capitol has a lot of workloads especially that not only the north is asking for its help. The governor added the southern part of Cebu is also requesting additional classrooms to house the increasing number of students.