Every time it rains hard, students at Mangaldan National High School are forced to wade through floodwaters just to get home, a frustrating daily challenge that school officials are now working hard to fix.

Lawrence Tolentino, a junior high school student, knows the struggle all too well. After class, he and his classmates often have no choice but to walk through the waterlogged pathway.

“Mahirap kasi nababasa ang sapatos namin. Lumulusong kami kasi wala naman kaming ibang madaanan,” he said.

The school administration is aware of the problem. While the floodwaters drain quickly, they usually rise right when students are heading home.

Wooden planks have been placed as a platform for students to walk on to while the pathway is flooded.

School officials have also begun filling in low-lying areas with sand. The pathway is scheduled to be cemented over the coming weekend.

Funding for this project comes from the school’s MOOE (Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses) budget and contributions from the teachers’ cooperative.

“Aksyon agad ang ginawa natin. Kasama namin ang mga janitor na tiningnan kung saan ang flow ng baha,” Assistant Principal Danilo Eden said.

A declogging operation is also scheduled for the school’s drainage canals to help further solve the flooding issue.