Fire destroys school bldg in Medellin

CEBU, Philippines -  A fire destroyed a three-classroom building of Daanlungsod Elementary School in Medellin town yesterday afternoon, damaging P2 million worth of property.

   Senior Police Officer 1 Jovito Aballe, desk officer of Medellin Police Station, said the fire alarm was received at around 1 p.m. based on the investigation of Medellin Fire Station led by Fire Officer Alex Larrobis.

   Fire trucks immediately responded to the fire, which is reportedly around four kilometers from the Medellin town hall.

   Although firefighters were quick to respond, it was already too late when they arrived as the building was already engulfed in flames.

   After 20 minutes, the fire was declared under control, said Aballe. 

   The classrooms were said to be used by Grade 4 and Grade 6 classes. Fortunately, no one was inside the rooms since there were no classes at that time.   

   The destroyed rooms were reportedly built during the administration of Ferdinand Marcos.

   Aballe said fire personnel were looking into possible electrical misuse as the cause of the fire. Aballe, who is a resident of Daanlungsod, also responded to the alarm.

   He said that witnesses told him that the fire originated from the room of a Grade 6 class, which happens to be the classroom of his daughter. 

   He said he spoke to the classroom adviser because there were rumors that the fire could have been caused by an unattended electric fan.

    But Aballe said according to the teacher before she left the classroom on Friday, she checked and made sure that everything was in order. 

   The FREEMAN tried to reach Senior Fire Officer 4 Alexis Go, Medellin Fire Station chief, but he was not available as of press time. 

   Medellin Mayor Ricardo Ramirez said that he has set a meeting with Medellin Department of Education district supervisor, the school principal, and Daanlungsod barangay officials on Monday to discuss the incident.

   “Bati lang kaayo paminawon ba nga kining mga Marcos-type classrooms nga nasunog, wala gyod magusbat sa Yolanda pero nasunog lang kay human negligence ba,” he said, adding that teachers should be prudent all the time.

   “Wala gani ko kahinumdom sa akong panahon nga naa mi-electric fan, so pangitaan na nato og paagi,” he said.

   The mayor said that affected classes will temporarily be done under tents.

Since the available tents are only good for two classes, the mayor said there’s a possibility that the third class would be conducted at the barangay hall.  (FREEMAN)