Floods, lack of equipment in some schools ahead of Balik Eskwela 2025
Several schools across the country were flooded on Sunday, a day before the opening of School Year 2025-2026, with some reporting a lack of facilities such as tables and chairs.
At least five classrooms in Frances Elementary School in Calumpit, Bulacan have been submerged by the floods, some of which have had their ceilings collapsed, following the recent rains and the high tide, as reported by Katrina Son on GMA's '24 Oras Weekend' on Sunday.
Floods have also hit Doña Damiana De Leon Macam Memorial Elementary School, where administrators have put up makeshift pathways for students to avoid the water.
The water level in the area rose past 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 15, and is expected to wane down during the evening.
Freddie Pareñas Collado, a teacher at the Roberto E. Madayag Child Development Center in Kiamba, Sarangani was also forced to stack the tables and chairs in his classroom to higher ground, as the surrounding areas have been flooded.
In Cebu, teachers of the Don Vicente Rama Memorial Elementary School have continued to prepare for the school year, but have reported a lack of tables and chairs. They will temporarily use old chairs, monobloc chairs, and folding tables for the meantime.
GMA Integrated News is still trying to reach out to the Department of Education (DepEd) for comment on the matter.
In Dagupan City, meanwhile several public schools will implement class shift schedules due to classroom shortages and flood-prone areas made worse by the rainy season and high tide.
Dagupan City has 31 public elementary schools and eight public high schools, including three integrated schools.
However, many students will have no classrooms to use when classes open, according to the Schools Division Office.
'There's a lot of shortages sa classroom natin,' Dr. Rowena Banzon, Schools Division Superintendent, said.
Some schools will adopt shifting schedules not only because of limited space, but also due to flooding caused by the rainy season and rising tides. Schools are prioritizing the use of flood-free classrooms for student safety.
In Quezon City, one school was hit not by flood but by fire. A fire broke out at San Francisco High School in Barangay Bagong Pag-asa at around 11 a.m. Sunday morning, with firefighters able to declare the fire out at 11:58 a.m.
According to Vonne Aquino's report on 24 Oras Weekend, the fire resulted in some P3 million worth of damage. Twenty rooms were affected, including 11 classrooms, a conference hall, the library, and other areas. Firefighters and school staff worked together to get some equipment out of the affected buildings.
The start of classes will proceed on Monday, but in the school's covered court, the report said.
Over 37,000 police officers are expected to be deployed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the opening of classes on Monday.
The academic year will run from June 16, 2025 until March 31, 2026, marking the return to the pre-pandemic school calendar. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA Integrated News
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