The five abandoned classrooms at the Amador Dagudag Memorial Elementary School in Brgy. Looc, Dumaguete City, have been found to be hazardous and susceptible to fire if not demolished, renovated or rehabilitated.

A composite team from the city government composed of the city fire department, city engineer's office, city health office, sanitary office, city legal and the city disaster risk reduction management council inspecting fire prone areas, abandoned houses and buildings in Dumaguete City were brought to the elementary school in Looc to see for themselves their conditions.

The team of Joey Abella of the City Legal Office, fire marshal Arnulfo Sayson of the City Fire Department, and Randy Saldua of the CDRRMC inspected the abandoned Bagong Lipunan classrooms, with principal Bernadette de Jesus and Looc Barangay Captain Angelita Ragay.

The classrooms were stocked with damaged chairs, desks, damaged computers, books and other reading materials, and one class room still has a live electric connection.

De Jesus said the classrooms had been abandoned since May last year, and had been hit by typhoon Pablo.

Saldua said, the classrooms could have been repaired or rehabilitated if it had been reported to the CDRRMC, using the calamity fund.

De Jesus said she submitted a report on the status of the classrooms to the City Schools Division.

Aside from fire, the abandoned classrooms could also be unsanitary to school children and a breeding place for dengue-carrying mosquitoes. The composite team recommended immediate action from DepEd.

Sayson said the team will also inspect closely-built houses in sitio Canday-ong, and barangays Calindagan, Daro, Piapi Beach and Poblacion 8 where informal settlers have constructed their houses.* JG

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