Flood welcomes students on first day of school in Bulacan

Some schools in Calumpit, Bulacan opened the first day of classes while reeling from the floods brought about by the high tide, Oscar Oida reported Wednesday on “24 Oras."

At the Sta. Lucia National High School, more than 1,000 students crowded 16 classrooms as most facilities remain flooded. At least 30 classrooms were affected by the high tide.

Sandbags were also used across the school to help learners cross the waters.

“Although shifting kami. Ang ginagawa po namin ina-allocate namin yung room may group na pang Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday so forth and so on,” said principal Roberto Laganao.

(We have shifting schedules. We allocate the classrooms to certain groups for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, so forth, and so on.)

Several students said they could not concentrate on their studies because of the situation.

“Di po kami nakakapag-concentrate nang maayos dahil po sa baha…Kinakagat po kami ng mga lamok,” said Rob Asuzena, a student.

(We cannot concentrate because of the flood. There were mosquitoes too.)

Meanwhile, classes at the Pascual Cruz Memorial Elementary School shifted to blended learning due to the deep flood, affecting about 200 students.

Authorities are expecting the flood to persist until next week.

“Pagka ganitong nagha-high tide na meron silang alternative delivery mode. Kung ano gagawin nila pag high tide, may schedule na silang sinusunod kung modular ba ang mga bata o naka online naka ready na kami,” Marquez Cartel, DepEd District Supervisor of the Calumpit North District, said.

(We shift to alternate delivery mode when there’s flood. Students already have schedules for their classes.)

Principal Daniel Namangun appealed to the government to address the flooding.

“Nangangarap kami para sa mga bata pero kung ano magagawa naming solusyon e paunti-unti po yun ang ginagawa namin,” said Namangun.

(We hope to resolve this but on our own, we craft solutions.)

For its part, the Department of Education (DepEd)-Bulacan said the request is being processed.

“’Yung mga schools po namin alam ko ay bina-budgetan. May mga request na po para magkaroon ng mga two-story building  para po may mapuntahan ang mga bata sa tuwing tataas ang baha ay may mapupuntahan sila,” Maria Lourdes Patag, DepEd Senior Education Program Specialist, said.

(As far as I know, there were budget allocation for the schools. There’s also a request for the establishment of a two-story building that can house the students when there’s flood.)—Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA Integrated News