Teachers and parents at a flood-prone elementary school in Calasiao, Pangasinan are looking forward to a new four-story building that they hope will protect students and classrooms from recurring floods during the rainy season.

With the onset of the rainy season and forecasts of possible tropical cyclones entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility this June, schools in low-lying areas are again preparing for potential flooding. According to the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, 15 schools in Calasiao are located in flood-prone areas.

Among them is Balingit-Constantino Lasip Elementary School, where floods have become a yearly problem.

Master Teacher I Myrna Caguioa said flooding worsened after a nearby road was elevated.

“Noong wala pa yung mataas na kalsada, hanggang sa legs lang. Pero after nung mataas na kalsada, lampas-tao na. So yung baha last year, maraming mga nasira,” she said.

The school is set to begin construction of a four-story, 12-classroom building in September. Before work starts, temporary classrooms will be prepared to accommodate students while classrooms for Grades 1 to 4 are demolished.

Caguioa said the new building will give both teachers and students greater security during heavy rains.

“Number one, hindi na kami babahain. Number two, okay na kami pag baha, wala nang masisira. Yung isip namin, payapa na,” she said.

School officials said the new structure will be able to accommodate classes from kindergarten through Grade 6.

Liezel Cortez, a guardian, welcomed the project, saying it would help protect school property and allow learning to continue despite bad weather.

“Para yung mga gamit, hindi na masayang sa baha tsaka yung mga bata makakapasok pa rin kahit may ulan pa,” she said.