A tent at a school in Carmen, Davao del Norte collapsed during a rehearsal for graduation rites on Friday, April 11, 2025.

According to the principal of Carmen National High School, heavy rains poured while students were rehearsing for the graduation ceremony.

Rainwater reportedly accumulated and weighed the tent down until the structure gave in.

“Yun pong heavy downpour talaga. Nabantayan din po kasi ng mga students na parang babagsak siya yung lang po may dalawang monoblock chairs na-damage po,” the principal, Lordelyn Buyo, said.

No one was injured as students were evacuated immediately.

The tent was provided by the local government upon the school’s request to accommodate around 886 graduating students.

It was installed as an extension of the school gymnasium.

“For now, hindi pa po kasi natin magamit ang municipal gym under repair po so we have to make our school gym ma-accommodate ang ating mga graduates po and mga parents we have around 886 graduates,” Buyo said.

The tent has been repaired and will be used during the actual graduation ceremony on April 15, 2025.

“Na-fix na po ng LGU yon kahapon pa po maám. Ang sa pagkakaalam ko maám parang stronger materials na po ang ginamit po nila maám and of course we are praying hindi uulan maam,” Buyo said.

The Department of Education-Davao (DepEd-11) reminded all schools to remain vigilant and have its disaster risk reduction and management plans in place.

"Ready talaga dapat ang disaster risk reduction and management effort sa kada eskwelahan dahil may na-establish ng DRRM effort and secondly kung may makikitang mga…even minor issues pertaining to facilities especially sa mga gagamitin sa end of school year rites immediately ipaalam sa school authorities upang maaksyunan kaagad,” DepEd-11 Spokesperson, Jenelito Atillo, said.