The sight is not exactly new but paints yet another picture of development trickling slowly to the far corners of the country.

A video captured by no less than the head of Pisompongan Integrated School in Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur shows students of the school wading through deep, murky waters to reach the other side of the river in Barangay Pisompongan.

It was around 5 p.m. on June 24, 2025 when the school head, students, and parents reached the river, which is part of the route to and from school, but the water had swelled following heavy rains.

They had two choices: Stay and wait for the water to subside or cross the swell to reach home before the sun would set. They chose the latter.

With hands up in the air to keep their bags from getting wet, the students entered the river, the water neck-deep. Most of them were reportedly Grade 5 and high school students.

Another video showed parents guiding the students in crossing the river, returning to the other side multiple times until all the students have crossed safely.

“Gabayanihan even though dili nila anak pero ilang gihakot, balik-balik ba until nahurot ang tanang bata sa suba. Ilang gikuha para makauli,” the school head, Gideon Goc-ong, said.

The students would tell him later that they had to get home because they had to guide their animals to safety.

“So nakakita ko sa bata nga nitabok galangoy gaaswat sa iyang bag, so I took a video of that until such time natingala ko nagkadaghan sila pag-ayo mao tong akong gipangutana, ngano manglangoy man mo? Nganong nanguli na man mo? Nganong inyong gipugos? Ingun siya, kinahanglan na muuli kay naa pay tugwayon, naa pay hayop pa nga itugway kay ulan man pud. Unya nabalaka pud sila basig mabahaan pud ang ilang mga hayop,” Pisompongan Integrated School Principal, Gideon Goc-ong, said.

School officials have already requested the local government to build a bridge at the river, which is in an area under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“Nabuhatan namo na og report sa pagkakaron. Murag mag-request gyud nga dinalian nga mabutangan og tulay diha kay DPWH na man gud maghawid ana,” said Diego Clavedo, chief of the Midsalip Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) Operation and Warning Section.

MDRRMO has advised teachers and school heads to dismiss students early if there is an incoming storm or forecast for heavy rains.

“Ang akong abiso sa tanang mga teacher, mga head sa school, dapat kung naa man gali ulan nga mahibaloan nato, palihog atong paulion og sayo ang mga estudyante, katong mga mangatabokay,” Clavedo said.

The MDRRMO, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and the police are set to conduct a river crossing drill for students, their parents, and teachers to teach them proper and safe crossing procedures.