School building for Badjaos in Zamboanga collapses

ZAMBOANGA CITY - A two-classroom school building for Badjaos in a coastal village west of the city collapsed before dawn Tueday after being battered by big waves.

Gasariya Taha, a volunteer teacher assigned with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), said the concrete classroom built on stilts in Sitio Caragasan, Barangay Maasin collapsed at about 2 a.m. Tuesday.

Taha said the school building was built 13 years ago as a daycare center for the Badjao tribe.

She said no one was hurt during the incident as the classroom had been abandoned three months ago because of its condition.

Taha said that even before the school building collapsed, it had been in a sorry condition because it was constantly battered by big waves.

She said that they are hoping another school building bill be built for the Badjaos in the area.