Muntinlupa school buildings straddling fault line ordered closed, demolished

Department of Education chief Secretary Armin Luistro has ordered the closure of three school buildings of the Buli Elementary School in Muntinlupa City as the structures are either atop or near the West Valley Fault Line, a school official said on Sunday.

The school official also told GMA News that construction of additional classrooms are ongoing to accommodate the school's 1,400 students during the start of classes on Monday.


^{Buli Elementary School. Photo by Mav Gonzales}

One of the three buildings sits within the five-meter buffer zone from the fault line, the official said, adding that there is an ongoing study on what to do with it.  But the other two structures will be demolished.

Meanwhile, the school's garden was cleared to give way to an open evacuation area.

On the other hand, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology personnle have already placed markings on the spots where the fault line traverses.


^{Buli Elementary School. Photo by Mav Gonzales}

Aside from construction activities, school authorities also focus on disaster preparedness through orientation and drills. — LBG, GMA News