School principal asked to explain lab accident

CEBU - Cebu City Councilor Gerardo Carillo yesterday asked the school principal of Camp Lapu-Lapu National High School in Apas to take action within five days on the case of a 15-year-old student who suffered third-degree burns during a class experiment last September 17.

In his conversation with Christy Joy Donadillo and her parents, school principal Lida Rodriguez, faculties and some of the students who were present during the incident, Carillo told the principal to submit within five days their report on the incident and their plan on what to do with the victim after.

Being the chairman of the council committee on education, Carillo said he is calling for an audience so he will know what exactly happened for possible creation of an ordinance that would prevent the same accident in the future.

Christy Joy and her classmates were reportedly working on an experiment during their Chemistry class at the Camp Lapu-Lapu National High School when the chemicals came in contact with her skin.

She burst into tears as she narrated to Carillo the tragic experience, saying all she could see after the accident was her skin turning blue and her hair in fire.

Christy Joy told Carillo that the fire started when one of her classmates Delfinito Andrino poured some denatured alcohol into the charcoal embers while they were making a bio-fuel experiment to be showcased in a regional competition.

She was rushed to the Cebu City Medical Center immediately after the accident and was later transferred to Chong Hua Hospital when her condition did not improve.

Her parents, Jovy and Herman Donadillo, appealed to Carillo for help, saying they could not afford the treatment of the burns on their daughter’s face, neck, arms, legs and thighs.

Because Christy Joy has been required to stay in an air conditioned room, Carillo lent his new air conditioning unit to be installed in her room so that she will have a cool environment that is needed to help control the pain due to her wounds.

Herman also expressed discontentment on the part of the school for allegedly not taking action on the incident. The family received more than P30,000 from the school that came from students’ contributions.

Carillo said the city will do its part on extending help for Christy Joy in her hospitalization expenses. –Jasmin R. Uy/WAB (THE FREEMAN)