Iloilo: The Department of Education Western Visayas (DepEd-6) reported that 125 schools in Iloilo have shifted to the Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) following the magnitude 4.8 earthquake on Monday evening, allowing authorities to conduct structural safety assessments of school buildings.
According to Philippines News Agency, as of 8 a.m. Tuesday, the DepEd regional office said 74,243 learners from the Schools Division of Iloilo City and the Schools Division of Iloilo province were affected by the suspension of face-to-face classes by their respective local government units.
Based on data, shifting to ADM were 19 public schools with 2,226 learners in the town of Tubungan; 12 schools with 4,462 learners in Oton; 32 schools with 10,636 learners in Tigbauan; 17 schools with 4,462 learners in Guimbal; the Iloilo National High School with 5,476 learners; and 44 schools with 45,981 learners in Iloilo City.
Meanwhile, the rapid visual assessment of the provincial capitol building by personnel of the Provincial Engineers Office (PEO) and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) found the building structurally safe, and no additional cracks were found.
"No noticeable defects were noticed along the structural member of the building. In view of that, we declare that the building is structurally safe for now," Provincial Engineer Romeo Andig said in his message to reporters.
PDRRMO head Cornelio Salinas also advised Capitol employees to follow protocol in case of aftershocks. He said work is automatically suspended once an earthquake happens during office hours, and the Capitol building will be vacated to allow the PEO to come in and check the soundness and stability of the structure.
"Kindly internalize 'duck, cover and hold.' Do not run, just walk briskly. That should be part of our condition reflex in addressing mass situation, such as an earthquake," Salinas said.
The city government, on the other hand, said "no significant structural damage has been identified or reported" in public markets, condominiums, and BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) facilities based on the rapid structural assessment conducted by the Office of the Building Official.
"The majority of residents experienced strong ground shaking, particularly those in mid-and high-rise buildings. Business and government establishments reported hairline cracks on structures and noted the swaying of hanging objects," the Iloilo Emergency Operations Center reported at 10 a.m. on Tuesday.
The epicenter of the 4.8 quake was in the town of Guimbal in Iloilo, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
Intensity IV was felt in municipalities of Guimbal, Miagao, Tigbauan, and Oton in Iloilo province, and Iloilo City; while Intensity III was felt in San Remegio in Antique, San Joaquin in Iloilo, and Bacolod City in Negros Occidental.
