Fire victims of Barangay Cogon Pardo still occupy three classrooms of the new building in Pardo Elementary School.(CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
Over 90 Grade 4 pupils of Pardo Elementary School yesterday had to hold classes in half-day shifts because their rooms are still occupied by evacuees.
Ten families, who were displaced when fire razed their houses in barangay Cogon Pardo on May 9, continue to occupy two Grade 4 classrooms and one alternative learning system (ALS) room at the ground floor of the public elementary school.
The sight of clothes hung out to dry outside the rooms met students and teachers who started the first day of school yesterday. Portable toilets are set up nearby.
School principal Ronald Llerin said, however, there were no sanitation problems.
He said Grade 4 pupils will hold classes in two shifts. The first class was held from 6 a.m. to 12 noon while the second class was held from 12 noon to 5 p.m.
“Hopefully they (evacuees) will be relocated by Wednesday or within the week. We are also asking the city government and the barangay officials to address the problem,” Llerin told Cebu Daily News.
He said holding classes in shifts has resulted in fewer activities for the children.
“We will meet the parents of the affected students if this would not be addressed immediately. They also need to understand what is happening. We really don´t know when this will end,” he added.
Dr. Rhea Mae Angtud, Department of Education (Deped) Cebu City Division Superintendent, asked the Cebu City disaster office and the city government when the problem will be resolved.
¨When will they relocate the evacuees. They always promise. Please help us. We don´t want our students to sacrifice,¨ Angtud said.
Barangay captain Harry Iran of Cogon-Pardo assured that structures will be cleared within the week.
He said they can´t house the evacuees at the sports complex because of poor ventilation there. Too much heat might affect the children´s health.
¨Once clearing and re-blocking will be done, the city government will provide them with construction materials,¨ he added.
The 10 families were among 20 families who initially evacuated to Pardo Elementary School after the fire.
RE-BLOCKING
Gemme Cruz, 50, said she wanted to go back to where her house was but they were still waiting for the re-blocking of the site.
Cruz´s family shares one classroom with another family. The family does not have relatives in Cebu City. Her relatives in Clarin, Bohol were 2013 earthquake victims.
So as not to disturb classes, they stayed inside the room and closed the door. They leashed their two-year-old dog inside the room.
“We want to rebuild our house. But we have to wait for the re-blocking. We’re just waiting for the government,” she said.
She said the owner of the private property that they were using has agreed to let them rebuild, but only after re-blocking. Cruz rented her part of the lot for P224 a month.
Cruz is jobless. But she stands to earn P500 a week if she is able to report for work at a necklace shop.
At present, her family is dependent on the P10,000 assistance provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) of Cebu City.Department of Social Welfare and Services