Classes going on in Butuan amidst transport strike, DepEd says

Monday 19th of September 2011

BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 19 (PIA) – In spite of the nationwide transport strike where majority of the transport groups here sympathized with the militant transport group Piston, the Department of Education (DepEd) Butuan City Division did not suspend classes in the elementary and high school.

In an early interview this morning, Prof. Israel Reveche, Spokesperson of DepEd Butuan City Division, they did not issue a directive for the suspension of classes because students in schools within the city proper are only affected with the transport strike.

“Majority of the schools here are located in barangays and they are not fully affected with the nationwide transport strike since students and pupils enrolled in these schools are also living in the same barangay,” Reveche said.

Reveche further said students enrolled in schools located in the city are greatly affected with it. “Thus, if they will be absent today, they will be given due consideration,” he added.

For private schools, Reveche said the school administrators will decide if classes will be suspended or not.

The DepEd official also informed the parents not to enforce their children to attend classes if there is difficulty in transporting them.

However, Agusan National High School, the most populated secondary school here has advised their students as early as Sunday for the suspension of classes.

Meanwhile, transport group leaders here said 85 to 90 percent of their members have participated the activity in support to the call of Piston.

As early as 5:00 o’clock this morning, it is observed that only few vehicles are operating here and majority of it are private vehicles.

Because of the prevailing situation, some government agencies offered their vehicles to transport employees and constituents. It was learned that the city government has provided five pick-up points around the city. All passengers are transported to the city’s Rizal Park and vice-versa. (PIA-Caraga)