Some Laguna residents defended their governor’s decision to shift to distance learning for the rest of October due to the imminent threat of an earthquake.
Laguna Governor Sol Aragones‘ decision to temporarily suspend face-to-face classes in all public and private schools in the province generated buzz among Filipinos who first heard of the initiative.
The Department of Education previously suspended physical classes in the public schools in Metro Manila from October 13 to 14 due to the rising incidence of influenza-like illnesses.
Laguna has followed suit and called off physical classes as well but according to Aragones, this was to give time for authorities to ensure students’ safety once a strong earthquake rattles the province.
Instead, classes will shift to ADM, or Alternative Delivery Mode, which includes online classes and modular learning.
The rest of October will also be used to let families prepare their provisions amid the threat of a tremor, especially since the West Valley Fault line runs through the province.
The West Valley Fault is known to generate a magnitude 7.2 or stronger earthquake in Metro Manila, an event dubbed “The Big One.”
Experts believe it is due for another major movement since it last shifted in 1658, with a recurrence interval of 400 to 600 years.
Meanwhile, Aragones’ post about Laguna’s temporary physical classes suspension earned mixed reactions from Filipinos who questioned the motive, arguing that earthquakes cannot be predicted.
“‘Possible earthquake’? Earthquakes are not predictable, it just happens or does not happen. Earthquakes are not like tropical storms that can be tracked and, therefore, somewhat predictable. What’s wrong with this governor?” an online user said.
“Kung walang pasok kasi may posibilidad na lumindol, e baka forever ng walang face to face classes sa Laguna. Sa Pilipinas po normal ang lindol kasi nasa Ring of Fire tayo. Nag-consult man lang ba sa Phivolcs tungkol dito?” another user said.
“Fearmongering naman si Sol. Besides, paano kung buong Oktubre walang lindol pero sa araw na bumalik sila, lumindol. Mape-predict mo ba ‘yun? ‘Di naman, ‘di ba?” commented another Pinoy.
Some Filipinos, especially Laguna residents, defended the governor’s move and pointed out that the time was for to evaluate students’ safety once a strong earthquake struck the province.
“For me, as a parent, mas okay na ‘to kesa mag-alala ako na nasa school ang mga anak ko at doon abutan ng lindol,” a Facebook user commented.
“Bilang magulang, kahit mahirap mag-modular, pabor sa’min, hindi kami mag-aalala na baka mapano anak namin sa school, lalo na ang mga buildings sa school namin ay hanggang [fourth] floor,” another user said.
“Bilang taga-Laguna at magulang na laging nangangamba sa nangyayari ngayon, naging kampante ako sa ginawang desisyon ni Gov. Sol.. May pagkakataon din makapaghanda at ma-check [ang] mga gusali ng bawat paaralan,” commented a different Pinoy.
“Bilang taga Laguna, initially, I questioned the Governor’s decision. However, upon evaluating the situation—particularly the preparedness of schools during calamities — it appears to be a wise and proactive measure. Given the current spread of influenza, it also helps safeguard students’ health,” said another user.
Aragones on Tuesday, October 14 also posted videos where she was spotted inspecting some school buildings, accompanied by the province’s engineers and disaster team.
“Kaya kami nag-iinspect, kasi tinitingnan namin ‘yung sitwasyon dahil, Aldwin, kapag lumindol… ito bagyo lang, matindi na, paano pa kapag lumindol — ‘wag naman sana, no,” she said.
“So hindi po kami nananakot, ang gusto lang namin ay maging handa, ano po. Kung in case na bumalik na ‘yung mga bata dito, sa mga classroom nila, ano ang gagawin. Kailangan natin i-identify,” Aragones added.
Recent quakes
Recently, strong earthquakes have struck different parts of the country, like the magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Cebu on September 30, the magnitude 7.4 and magnitude 6.8 earthquakes in Davao Oriental on October 10, and the magnitude 6.0 earthquake in Surigao del Sur on October 11.
However, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said that these quakes do not trigger the West Valley Fault to move since “they are far apart” from each other.
“Magkakaiba din ang generators ng paglindol natin. Iba ang fault system natin. Yung sa West Valley Fault, ‘yung sa The Big One na tinatawag natin would come from the West Valley Fault,” Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol said to GMA’s “Unang Hirit.”
He also said that the “Big One” could occur before, during, or later than 2058, the reference point from the year the fault last moved (1658) to 400 years (the lower boundary of the fault’s recurrence interval).
“It means that as we get closer to 2058, the probability of this thing recurring is increasing,” Bacolcol said in an ANC interview.
The West Valley Fault line runs roughly 100 kilometers through Bulacan, Metro Manila, and Calabarzon, forming one of the country’s most closely monitored fault systems.
Bacolcol also said that it is always possible to feel successive or simultaneous earthquakes as the country has 180 active fault segments and six active trenches.
Government agencies continue to urge households, schools, and offices to prepare emergency kits, identify safe evacuation routes, and reinforce structures as precautionary measures — actions that remain useful regardless of when a major quake occurs. — with reports from Philstar.com/Ian Laqui
