At least 140 public schools are situated in barangays that sit atop the 100-kilometer West Valley Fault, the Department of Education (DepEd) said.
In reaction to the warning issued by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on possible movement by the West Valley Fault that could trigger a 7.2-magnitude earthquake, Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro assured that schools built after 1992 are structurally sound.
“All multi-storey buildings built after 1992, are structurally sound—if permits were not rigged, Luistro told reporters at a press conference held Tuesday.
The DepEd also identified five public schools in Metro Manila and one in Bulacan that are transacted by the fault line. These are Barangka National High School in Marikina City; Alabang Elementary School, Pedro Diaz High School and Buli Elementary School in Muntinlupa City; Anne-Claire Montessori in Taguig City; and Sitio Karahume Elementary School in San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan.
Luistro said the DepEd will announce if classes will open on June 1 in Pedro E. Diaz High School, which has four buildings transected by or on top of the fault line.
As for the other four schools, Luistro said class opening will push through as scheduled.
Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum Jr., however, said the number of schools that lie directly on the fault line could still increase as private schools are not yet included in DepEd’s list.
