Old site declared as prone to landslide by MGB
Tag-abaca Elementary School (TES) is a multigrade school located in the far-flung barangay of Tag-abaca in the municipality of Leyte, Leyte.
In the year 2014 after the typhoon ‘Henry’, the school grounds and buildings developed some cracked and erosions due to heavy rains.
The school head requested the local government unit and Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to conduct ocular inspection of the said school.
Based upon the findings of the MGB, the school site of TES is prone to landslide. The MGB with the implementation of the 2nd phase of the National Geohazard Mapping and Assessment Program aimed at disaster risk reduction had conducted field assessment for landslide and flood hazard sometimes June 18-26, 2014.
Field assessment showed that Brgy. Tag-abaca is one of the villages in Leyte town that are prone to landslides reason for the immediate transfer of the school to safer location.
Consequently, after a month of survey by the MGB, heavy rains occurred which resulted to major ground cracks evidently observed at the site of the school which affected the structural integrity of its buildings.
Presidential Decree 1096 otherwise known as the National Building Code of the Philippine specifically under section 215 provides that when any building or structure found to be dangerous, building officials shall order its repair, vacation, or demolition, depending upon the degree of danger to life, health or safety.
In the case of structures within the school of TES in Brgy. Tag-abaca declared by Municipal Engr. May Wen Beth P. Sabite that buildings to be unsafe for occupancy and immediate transfer of the structures was highly recommended.
The teacher-in-charge of TES, Mrs. Marilou N. Go, initiated in looking/soliciting land donor for the new site for the school for its immediate relocation.
Fortunately, the heirs of Muertegui families donated one hectare for the new school site of TES last 2015.
Finally, last January 2015, TES transferred/relocated to the new site with the help of barangay officials.
At present, TES has a total of 167 pupils, offering Kinder to Grade 6 respectively. The government has a mission to deliver quality and equitable basic education to all Filipino children.
But this government’s vision could not be realized due to lack of conducive classroom buildings for the learners as there are still schools which uses makeshift classrooms.
This shortage of classrooms could be addressed by seeking donations either from government agencies like the Department of Education, local government unit or nongovernment organization.
In the case of TES, the AGAPP Foundation donated one unit two-classrooms and school supplies of the learners.
At the moment, TES has an ongoing two-storey with classroom school building from the Department of Education.
TES is the first recipient school of a two-storey building in the municipality of Leyte.
(Note: The author is he teacher-in-charge of the Tag-abaca Elementary School in Leyte, Leyte)
BY: MARILOU N. GO
