PB recommends ‘igloo’ structures for classrooms

CEBU, Philippines - Care to have an igloo for a classroom, minus the snow and the penguin?

The Cebu Provincial Board has urged the Department of Education and the Department of Public Works and Highways, as well as their partners in the private sector, to consider the construction of igloo-like school buildings.

The structure, called as “Cory Aquino modular type” buildings like the ones existing in Balamban town, is considered typhoon-resilient.

In an approved resolution authored by Board Member Grecilda Sanchez, the PB argued that in public schools super typhoon Yolanda devastated last year, the igloo buildings were allegedly unscathed.

Sanchez’s father, the late Cebu vice governor Gregorio Sanchez, made a similar appeal during his time.

When Yolanda struck last year, it caused P559.8 million in damage to classrooms in Cebu alone. Repairing and/or replacing the school buildings requires P735.5 million.

Assessment of the damage brought by typhoon Ruby recently is still ongoing.

“The government may be spared from the cost of destruction of school infrastructures…if the Cory Aquino Modular Type school buildings are constructed,” read the measure.

“There is still shortage of classrooms in (the)… different public schools, and it is imperative to continue building a number of them,” it added.

The offices of Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III, DepEd-7 Director Carmelita Dulangon, and DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro were to be provided with copies of the resolution.

DPWH-7 District engineer James Dellosa, who was invited to appear during the PB’s regular session last Monday, agreed to the resolution, saying the modular-type buildings can indeed withstand typhoons.

A video presentation on an existing Cory Aquino modular-type school building was shown during the session.

“That’s very nice. It can also be put in a mountainous area, di talaga matuklap. At saka malamig ‘yon kasi cemented,” Dellosa said. — (FREEMAN)