Just as power was restored after a seven-hour blackout, a loud explosion was overheard from a classroom of the Bantayan Central Elementary School at past 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Fire then razed three school buildings and damaged portions of two others. No one was however reported injured.
The aftermath: There were 12 classrooms lost, six of which were for Grade 6 and the rest for kindergarten, and Grades 1 and 2. Also damaged were the school’s clinic, stockroom, and the alternative learning system building.
The gutted school buildings were one of the oldest school buildings in Bantayan and fire investigators have so far zeroed in on “faulty electrical wiring” as the cause of the fire.
A report aired over TV Patrol Central Visayas said the fire started in one classroom, and that the residents nearby and security men of the school tried to put out the fire until firefighters arrived.
Department of Education district supervisor Cynthia Del Corro, in a post-incident statement, said that classes of the affected pupils will continue.
Del Corro also requested the local government and the DepEd to set aside funds for the construction of new school buildings to replace the gutted ones.
Governor Gwen Garcia, for her part, said she would rebuild the school buildings but she was uncertain yet on how much money would be allocated for such project.
The governor is set to discuss with fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon and DepEd provincial director Recaredo Borgonia on the plan to build a 10-classroom school building.
“We will sit down with Rep. Benhur and DepEd’s Borgonia to discuss how to help each other to address this tragedy,” Garcia said. — Ramil V. Ayuman with Garry B. Lao/RAE