DepEd seeks DPWH help for students risking lives to cross river in Nueva Vizcaya

Education Secretary Sonny Angara appealed to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) after a news report showed high school students in Nueva Vizcaya risking their lives daily to reach school by crossing a river on steel cables.

In a letter to DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan dated August 17, 2025, Angara cited a GMA Regional TV News report on the plight of students from Pinayag National High School in Sitio Macdu, Barangay Pinayag, Kayapa. The students reportedly cling to the cables to cross a river after the bridge in Barangay Latbang was destroyed by Super Typhoon Pepito in November 2024.

“Their story is a stark reminder of the broader infrastructure challenges that continue to affect our public school system,” Angara wrote. 

"We recognize that sustainable and long-term solutions are urgently needed to make school access safe and reliable”, he added.

Angara said the Department of Education (DepEd) is counting on closer coordination with DPWH to ensure that classrooms and access routes, especially in geographically isolated and disaster-prone areas, are built to be strong and resilient.

He stressed that the request is aligned with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to provide safe and resilient learning environments nationwide.

The DepEd chief noted that while the department focuses on delivering quality education, the safety of students going to and from school remains dependent on reliable infrastructure.

“We hope that our agencies can continue collaborating when it comes to urgent infrastructure needs in our schools,” Angara said, adding that DepEd is committed to “strengthening our partnership with DPWH to ensure that classrooms and access routes are built strong, resilient, and truly conducive to learning.”

The GMA Regional TV's report, published on July 7, captured videos of students clutching steel cables while crossing the river where the bridge once stood, highlighting the dangers they face daily. The footage has since sparked public concern, with calls for government agencies to act swiftly.

It is said that the bridge had not been restored since Super Typhoon Pepito struck nearly two years ago, leaving students and villagers with no safe passage. — RF, GMA Integrated News