Flood hits public school classrooms in Naga City

Pupils of Naga Central School clean their classroom after it was flooded with three-foot deep rain water yesterday. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)

A least six classes were disrupted at the Naga Central Elementary School in Naga City in southern Cebu after a downpour early yesterday morning flooded its low-lying classrooms.

Delight Mae Santos, a Grade 5 teacher, told CEBU DAILY NEWS it was the second time this happened this year, especially after the completion of a volleyball court fronting the affected classrooms.

According to Santos, the flood water had reached above the knee and in both flooding incidents, they had to either cancel classes or move their classes to their social hall or library.

Other teachers, to save time, distributed their students to other sections so they could still attend class, she added.

Third grade pupils were seen cleaning their classrooms when CDN visited the school at noon yesterday.

Darling Sumampong, their class adviser, said the lack of drainage inside the school was one factor that contributed to the flooding.

An irate parent posted the photos of the flooded classrooms yesterday on Facebook.

Lani Alfanta Navales said this problem has not been addressed and was asking if the school has a budget to unclog its drainage system.

School principal Ana Liza Layasan said the flooding concern has reached the city government and they were doing their best to address it.

“I have also educated the children to observe proper waste disposal so that the canals would not be clogged up,” she told CDN in a text message.

Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong, in a separate text message to CDN, assured they were addressing the problem, saying they now have a budget for the construction of an alternate drainage system for the school.