Tidal floods also disrupt in-person classes in other Bulacan schools
CALUMPIT, BULACAN—At least 10 public schools in this flood-prone northern Bulacan town also shifted to Alternative Delivery Modes (ADM), as high tide waters from Manila Bay inundated school grounds, forcing a suspension of in-person classes.
In an interview, Gilbert Agapito, Department of Education (DepEd) public schools district supervisor of Calumpit North, said that ADM—either modular or online—was adopted on Thursday in schools located in low-lying barangays, including Pascual O. Cruz Memorial School, Meysulao High School, San Miguel High School, Doña Damiana De Leon Macam Memorial Elementary School, Bulusan and Frances Elementary Schools, Frances National High School, Meyto Elementary School, and Pulo and Linagit Primary Schools.
The flooding was triggered by a high tide that reached 4.79 feet as of 9:38 a.m. on Monday, Agapito said. Agapito cautioned that the expected 5.2-foot tide level in the coming days could potentially affect more schools.
“It’s the start of a series of ADM days for these schools,” Agapito added, noting that while moderate flooding last week did not disrupt classes, the current levels were no longer manageable for students and staff.
The shift came after a working holiday on Monday and Tuesday in observance of the Libad Festival and a health day on Wednesday when classes were again conducted via ADM to allow medical checkups for school personnel.
The affected schools are located in 15 of the town’s 29 barangays, identified as low-lying and vulnerable to high tide, including Meysulao, San Miguel, Frances, Gatbuca, Meyto, Panducot, San Jose, Sta. Lucia, Bulusan, Gugo, Calizon, Iba O’ Este, Balungao, Sapang Bayan, and Caniogan, according to the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO).
To cope, some schools conduct classes only on second-floor classrooms of elevated buildings built 2 to 3 meters above the ground. One-story buildings in these areas have become unusable during frequent flooding.
Agapito said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the provincial government of Bulacan have approved the construction of more elevated classrooms, including a new four-room structure in Barangay Meysulao, one of the most flood-affected villages. DepEd has also allotted funds for additional elevated school buildings.
Elevated rooms
“Last year, we received two two-story classrooms from the provincial government, and two more are set for construction this year,” he added.
The Municipal Health Office has also provided leptospirosis medication to midwives for distribution to students and parents exposed to floodwaters. Some students also use rubber boots to wade through the floods.
Despite ongoing mitigation efforts, Agapito expressed concern about the long-term effects of recurrent flooding.
“It can’t be that every high tide disrupts learning year after year,” he said.
In contrast, schools under the Calumpit South District remained unaffected by the flooding and continued to hold regular in-person classes, according to DepEd district supervisor Alexander Cruz.
For many students in the neighboring town of Hagonoy, the timing and height of the daily high tide determine whether they could attend in-person classes or must switch to online and modular learning.
Tidal surges regularly flood roads, homes, and school compounds across at least 15 villages—including San Pascual, V.C. Raymundo, San Roque, Mercado, Sta. Monica, Tampok, San Nicolas, Don Miguel, Sagrada Familia, Sta. Elena, Buga, and Tibaguin—under the Hagonoy West District. These persistent floods disrupt classes year-round, making ADM a necessary part of school life.
Some schools, like Hagonoy West Central, San Jose, and San Nicolas, have upgraded their buildings to withstand flood conditions. However, even elevated classrooms cannot guarantee access, as surrounding roads often become impassable—submerged under waist-deep waters at the peak of high tide.
