Marcos inspects reconstruction of QC school building hit by fire

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. inspected Friday the reconstruction of a school building in San Francisco High School in Quezon City, which was damaged by fire in June of last year.

Speaking to journalists, Marcos said the building would be finished by June 2026 in time for the start of classes. 

"Kung maalala ninyo, ito 'yung nasunog at kailangan nating baguhin ngunit ang itatayo natin na bagong school building dito... magiging 36 classrooms at napakaiusapan natin ang SM na magtayo din ng 24 classrooms," Marcos said, referring to SM Prime Holdings Inc., which owns the nearby shopping mall.

(If you remember, this was the building that was hit by fire. We need to change and reconstruct this into a new school building... this will have 36 classrooms and we asked SM to also construct 24 classrooms.) 

"Ang schedule nito, matatapos ito by the beginning of the next school year, sa June, puwede nang gamitin ito," he added.

(This will be finished by the beginning of the next school year in June. So by that time, we can use this already.) 

Education Secretary Sonny Angara earlier said that the Department of Public Works and Highways had recommended the demolition of the damaged area and build a new structure. 

The President had said that it seems that the cause of the fire was "electrical."

Marcos also said schools must ensure that there would be no overloading in the electrical systems of their facilities.

Decongested classrooms

Also on Friday, Angara said San Francisco High School was expected to return to single-shift classes once classes resume in June with completion of the new facilities. 

The education chief said thousands of learners will benefit from the reconstruction project, particularly students affected by severe congestion that forced the school to operate on double shifts starting as early as 5 a.m. and ending as late as 7 to 8 p.m.

“Libu-libo 'yan, not only yung macoconstruct kundi pati yung made-decongest," he expressed. 

(That’s thousands of students—not only those who will use the new classrooms—who stand to benefit from the decongestion.)

In June last year, a fire broke out in San Francisco High School along Misamis Street in Quezon City. Aside from classrooms, areas affected by the blaze was the faculty room. — with a report from Sherylin Untalan/ VDV, GMA Integrated News