Looc school in Mandaue City flooded, classes suspended

CEBU, Philippines - Some classes in Cesar Cabahug Elementary School in Looc, Mandaue City were suspended for the last two days after seawater flooded part of the school premises during high tide.

The school is known as a “floating school” as it is surrounded by seawaters.

School principal Zenaida Sucalit ordered the other day the suspension of afternoon classes of grades one, four and six after seawaters encroached their premises.

Sucalit attributed this to high tide which caused the sea level to rise.

“We experience this predicament usually in the months of June, uy and August especially during the celebration of the feast of St. John which was celebrated last Monday,” Sucalit said.

According to Sucalit, yesterday has its highest level since seawaters flooded their flagpole.

Forecast by PAG-ASA says the high tide yesterday registered at its highest level of  2.6 meters.

Grade six adviser Rowena Suralta said the highest level of seawaters occurred at 12 noon, flooding their premises which subsided not later than 5 pm when they are supposed to end their classes.

But residents near the Looc wharf below the first Mandaue-Mactan Bridge were not alarmed by the rise in seawaters.

“This is not unusual for us, what we are concerned are the giant waves spawned by fast crafts passing the channel which caused some destruction on the wharf and some houses,” said Rowena Nanoy, a checker of an arrastre in Looc wharf.

Benjamin Tiongson, City DepEd Division administrator, said he will send the division’s physical facilities coordinator to the school today to determine any plan of action and for proposal to the local school board, which is  chaired by Mayor Jonas Cortes. (FREEMAN)