Classes in NorthCot town still suspended

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Classes in all levels, both private and public, in Makilala, North Cotabato remained suspended this week, a local official said Monday.

Makilala municipal administrator and spokesperson Sherry Orbita said Mayor Armando Quibod has ordered the extension of class suspension as the town continues to experience aftershocks and many school grounds are still being used as evacuation centers.

“One-week suspension starting today, Monday,” Orbita said, adding that school children are being given psychosocial intervention.

Aside from Makilala, classes in three villages in Tulunan, North Cotabato also remained suspended.

These are in the villages of Daig, Magbok, and Paraiso where school buildings have collapsed or seriously damaged.

In other parts of North Cotabato, the Department of Education has ordered the resumption of classes in 42 of 73 affected public schools in the province.

Provincial Board Member Jeomar Cerebo, the spokesperson of North Cotabato’s Incident Command Center, said at least 19 persons have died due to the series of earthquakes that hit the province last month.

Aside from North Cotabato, Mindanao, three quake fatalities were also recorded in Davao del Sur, two in South Cotabato and one in Sultan Kudarat.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, in a statement, said a total of 268 persons have been injured in the calamity.

In North Cotabato, more than 35,180 families have been affected while damaged homes were placed at 33,380.

Disaster officials in Makilala are also validating reports that eight persons have remained missing and believed to have been buried by landslides.