Several students were caught on video sliding down a handrail of a 3,003-step concrete stairway in Barangay Lundungan, Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte.

In the video, the high school students of Zamboanga del Norte National High School are seen riding the handrails on their way down to their school located at the foot of the stairs.

The students consider this their “mode of transportation” and use net bags to slide down faster and avoid being late.

Residents and even teachers who were on their way home from Linabo Elementary School, which is located at the top of the hill, also used the handrails this way.

Even the school head of Linabo Elementary School, Jimmy Gemina, also used the same method. He said sliding down the handrails takes only around five minutes compared to walking the more than 3,000 steps, which could take up to an hour.

He added that the students have already gotten used to this practice.

“Yan lang ang strategy para mas madali silang makapunta sa kanilang school kasi 3,003 steps yun. Yung mga bata sanay na sanay na sila sa pagbalanse. Alam na ng mga parents. Pati kami mga teacher, yun ang sasakyan namin, ang net bag. Nakabalanse naman kami,” Gemina said.

GMA Regional TV One Mindanao is reaching out to the administration of Zamboanga del Norte National High School for a statement, as of this writing.

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Local officials expressed concern over the practice due to the potential accidents it may cause. They said walking remains the safest way.

“That particular area is under the Office of the City Tourism but then our personnel from the City Tourism Office have been trying to discourage people from doing that because of safety concerns. We cannot force them to stop, usahay badlungon lang namo,” Dipolog City Information Officer, Lorenzo Aseniero II, said.

The local government is now exploring alternative transportation in the area.

“The provincial government has been trying to find a way na pwedeng madadaanan ng sasakyan,” Aseniero added.