DepEd: 140 public schools located in barangays straddling Valley Fault System 

At least 140 public schools, the Department of Education said on Tuesday, are located in the barangays straddling the Valley Fault, which the PHIVOLCS has said can generate a magnitude 7.2 earthquake. 

 

The DepEd said this is not yet the final count of schools in the earthquake zone, a report on GMA-7's "24 Oras" said on Tuesday.  



DepEd's list does not include colleges, universities and technical-vocational training institutions also located in the vicinity of the Valley Fault.

 

"Crucial talaga na request namin at ni (DepEd secretary) Bro. Armin (Luistro) din na lahat ng school administrators, pribado o pampubliko, na tingnang mabuti ang Valley Fault, at kung suspected nila na malapit, then consult with us," PHIVOLCS director Dr. Renato Solidum Jr. said. 

 

PHIVOLCS recently released a comprehensive Valley Fault Atlas meant to inform the public of the fault's earthquake hazards.

 

"Lahat ng mga multi-storey buildings built in the last 30 years, after '92, are structurally sound—kung hindi dinuktor 'yung permit," according to Education Secretary Armin Luistro. 

 

PHIVOLCS has said one school in Bulacan and five in Metro Manila were built on top of the West Valley Fault. These are:

 

 

Pedro E. Diaz High School in Muntinlupa City has vacated the building sitting exactly on top of the fault. It is also in the process of determining the structural integrity of its other buildings. Some delay in its opening of classes is expected.

 

The five other schools will push through with the start of school year on June 1 but the DepEd said they will vacate the buildings that are on top of the fault. 

 

"Basta dadaanan ng fault tsaka within the five meter zone, kung may building diyan, the immediate action hindi siya gagamitin," DepEd Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro said.  — Trisha Macas/ELR/KG, GMA News