Ateneo reschedules opening of some grade, high school classes

The Ateneo de Manila University announced on Thursday that the first day of classes of some of the grade school students will be moved to different dates to retrofit its buildings.

In a statement, University President Jose Ramon Villarin SJ said that the David, Fermin, and Pacquing Halls in the Grade School complex will be retrofitted in accordance with the 2010 National Structural Code of the Philippines to ensure their structural integrity in case of a strong quake.

Because of the retrofitting processes, classes of the following levels will be moved to a later date:

-- Junior High School (Grades 7 and 8) - June 15, 2015
-- Grade School (Grades 3 to 6) - August 3, 2015.

"The occupants of these buildings shall be temporarily relocated to various areas on campus, and provided with pre-fabricated modular air-conditioned classrooms as needed, while retrofitting the buildings is being done," Villarin said in his statement.
 
Aside from classrooms, some offices will also be temporarily relocated.

Meanwhile, classes in Grades 1 and 2 will go on as scheduled since their buildings are not affected by the retrofitting processes.

The decision was made following the recommendation of the structural consultants from Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) who conducted structural audit and geological testing of the buildings closest to the West Valley Fault.

This 100-kilometer fault line affects the Quezon, Marikina, Pasig, Makati, Parañaque, and Taguig cities as well as the Laguna and Cavite provinces. PHIVOLCS said West Valley Fault may generate a 7.2 earthquake.  —Trisha Macas/KBK, GMA News