Mandaue plans to transfer Looc school to new place

CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue City government plans to transfer the Cesar M. Cabahug Elementary School of barangay Looc to a new location as its present site becomes inundated during the rainy season.

Mayor Jonas Cortes' executive secretary Jamaal James Calipayan said the city plans to acquire a new property for the school, which gets inundated as seawater rises in June, July, and August.

However, its transfer will still need the local school board's approval.

Ever since the school was built, water would rise during the rainy days in view of the fact that its location used to be part of the Mactan Channel.

But Engr. Cielo Jamora, physical facilities coordinator of the Department of Education (DepEd) Mandaue City Division, said it will be difficult to find a new site for the school.

She however suggested that the usually flooded parts of the school be elevated.

Principal Zenaida Sucalit said she has instructed teachers to always keep an eye on their pupils to avoid untoward incidents.

She has also told parents that it's their prerogative whether or not to send their children to school when the tide rises.

But Sucalit assured the pupils are safe inside the school. What worries her, she said, is when the children brave the flooded roads on their way home.

Sucalit said the situation in the school has improved in the last two years, as the seawater hardly reaches the classrooms.

For the past three days, the schools' hallways have been inundated with the rise of seawater starting noon and subside at 4 p.m.

The knee-deep water affects pupils in Grade 4 and 6.

In previous years, seawater made its way into classrooms, prompting teachers to cancel their classes, she said.

Sucalit said the school used to be an extension of the Mandaue City Central School in 1993.

It became a separate elementary school in 1995.

At present, the school has 1,680 students and 35 teachers.

Affected classes in Cesar Cabahug Elementary School resumed yesterday as the flooding of the premises due to high tide minimized.

 According to PAGASA regional director Oscar Tabada the highest peak was registered at 2.04 m last Monday during the celebration of the feast of St. John. He said the trend is decreasing registering 2.01 meters last Tuesday and 1.98 meters yesterday.

Zenaida Sucalit, principal of the school said although seawaters continued to encroach the back portion of the school, the level of seawaters decreased slighltly flooding the pathway. Affected were the classes of grades one, four and six.

During the height of the high tide last Monday seawaters reached the flagpole area. However, it failed to sip into the classroom because of the concrete barriers constructed at the doorsteps.

According to Sucalit this annual phenomenon occurs only in the month of June.

The school dubbed as "floating" since it is surrounded by seawaters formerly a saltbed and fishpond areas.

Engr. Cielo Jamora, DepEd city division coordinator for physical facilities  made an ocular inspection and recommended the land filling of the back portion inside the perimeter fence to block the entry of seawaters during high tide.

Jamora said she has yet to determine the cost of the project.

Looc Barangay Captain Raul Cabahug for his part said the barangay is willing to spend money for the land filling and will make representation with Mayor Jonas Cortes if the fund is not sufficient.  (FREEMAN)