KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/26 May) – Reelected Mayor Rodolfo Gantuangco has ordered the mobilization of the City Disaster Coordinating Council (CDCC) to respond to the onset of the rainy season, which may raise concerns about flooding and landslides.
The city, though located at the foot of the country’s highest peak, has experienced flashfloods last year due to torrential rains.
Gantuangco has organized Emergency Response Teams (ERTs) ready to be dispatched in times of calamities.
The local government unit has expected heavy downpour during school opening.
With this, he has already mobilized the local police force to provide security to students when classes resume on June 14.
Meanwhile, the city schools division of the Department of Education (DepEd) here started on Monday the “Brigada Eskwela,” a clean-up campaign participated in by parents, teachers, and the community to prepare the schools for the opening of classes.
The preparations included repairs of desks, chairs, repainting of classroom facilities, landscaping and general cleaning of the school grounds.
City schools division superintendent Maria Rosa Gutierrez has conducted site visitations and inspections in all public elementary and high schools in 40 villages in the city since Monday.
Gutierrez wanted to make sure that all schools accomplish the Brigada Eskwela.
For its part, the city government has provided the needed resources, taken from the Local School Board Fund, for the repair of buildings, classrooms, facilities, and other structures inside the schools.
“The Brigada Eskwela is the result of the partnership of the LGUs, DepEd, Parents Teachers Associations, and the community to help improve the academic performance of the students,” said Gantuangco. (Malu Cadeliña Manar / MindaNews)