More Leyte students benefit from typhoon-resilient classrooms

ORMOC CITY, Philippines  – The Lopez Group turned over 48 new classrooms to 18 schools in the 4th district of Leyte last Feb. 23. Leading the  turnover were Clarissa Ocampo, managing director of ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc. (ALKFI), and Richard Tantoco, president and COO of Energy Development Corporation (EDC).    

It is estimated that more than 4,000 students will use the typhoon-resistant classrooms.

In his speech, Leyte Gov. Dominic Petilla said the Lopez Group was not only building classrooms “but the future of these students”.

The classrooms, costing P1.2 million each, were built by the Lopez Group using funds donated to ALKFI. EDC, which operates the Leyte geothermal power plants, donated P4.5 million and supervised the construction of the classrooms. EDC tapped W.V. Coscolluela & Associates for the architectural design and Sy & Associates for the structural design.

The classrooms have been designed to withstand wind velocities of 250 kilometers per hour, and complies with the standard of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for typhoon-resilient structures. The facilities also feature new ceilings and wider windows for better ventilation. Other added amenities are wider blackboards, electric fans and comfort rooms.

In September 2014, the Lopez Group finished construction of 24 typhoon-resistant classrooms for the following schools in Leyte:  New Ormoc City National High School and Milagro Elementary School in Ormoc City, Matlang Elementary School in Isabel, and San Joaquin National High School in Palo.

The Leyte Rebuilding Project has programmed to construct 64 new classrooms and repair 10 classrooms in 23 schools in Ormoc, Kananga, Albuera, Merida, Palo and Isabel using donations to ALKFI.

An additional 32 classrooms will also be constructed in Ormoc City and Kananga using funds from companies under the Lopez Group. This project supports the Adopt a School Program of the Department of Education.