SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur (MindaNews / 03 December) – Agusan del Sur residents studying in state universities in Marawi City and Surigao del Sur are are appealing to their local government units to arrange transportation so they could come home: the former because of Sunday’s bombing that left at least four dead, and the latter because of the aftershocks of Saturday night’s Magnitude 7.4 earthquake.
Classes in both the Mindanao State University and the North Eastern Mindanao State University (NEMSU)-Lianga campus have been suspended starting December 4 until further notice.
Agusan del Sur students at the Mindanao State University (MSU) reached out to Governor Santiago Cane through social media posts, requesting rescue vehicles to pick them up after classes were suspended “until further notice.”
Cane responded through the Team Eddiebong Facebook page that help was on the way.
The governor asked the students to coordinate with Edward Lloren, the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer, through the hotline number 09673169972.
Simultaneously, Agusan del Sur students from NEMSU-Lianga Campus sought assistance from their respective municipal government units to provide them transport for their journey home.
They expressed concern about the continuous strong aftershocks felt in Lianga since the 7.4 quake struck at 10:37 p.m on Saturday.
NEMSU President Nemesio Loayo announced the indefinite suspension of classes starting Monday, December 4, for the evaluation and inspection of the school buildings’ structural damage.
Sangguniang Bayan member Vince Rufila of San Francisco personally traveled to Lianga on Sunday with vehicles sent by Mayor Grace Carmel Paredes-Bravo to fetch the students.
The St. Francis Xavier College (SFXC) in this town also suspended classes on Monday to allow for building inspections. Residents here experienced milder aftershocks compared to those in Lianga.
SFXC students were instructed to visit the school’s guidance office for psychosocial support, debriefing sessions, and other psychological services, especially for those who fainted during the powerful quake that disrupted their school’s 32nd-anniversary celebration at the municipal gym.
In Bayugan City, classes in all levels, both in public and private schools, were suspended on Monday through an executive order issued by City Mayor Kirk Asis.
The city suffered several damages, particularly the Catholic church and the Prince Supermarket located at the heart of the city. (Chris V. Panganiban / MindaNews)