Several school buildings in Cotabato City have been declared dangerous and unfit for human occupancy following the magnitude 5.9 quake that rocked Bukidnon and was also felt and in other parts of Mindanao.

The Cotabato City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) on Tuesday inspected and assessed the integrity of school buildings where at least six buildings in six public schools have been declared not safe for use of both teachers and students.

“The buildings sustained cracks from the quake,” Reynaldo Ridao, CDRRMO chief, said over a local radio station.

Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi said in a statement that the CDRRMO and the City Engineering Office have declared several buildings of the Notre Dame Village High School, Don E. Sero Elementary School, LR Sebastian Elementary School, Datu Ayunan Elementary School, Central Pilot Elementary School, and Vilo Elementary School as unsafe.

“These school buildings have cracks and fissures, indicators of possible collapse following the earthquake that hit on Monday night,” Sayadi said.

On Tuesday morning, she ordered the suspension of all classes in the city, both public and private, to allow the inspection and assessment of school buildings.

Classes resumed in the afternoon of the same day after the assessment was completed. Sayadi is set to sit down with city school officials later this week to discuss matters about the damaged school buildings. (PNA)