Typhoon-proof school buildings rise in Catanduanes
LIGAO CITY—For generations of students in the storm-battered island province of Catanduanes, typhoons have meant more than just flying rooftops or power outages—they’ve meant weeks of lost learning. But that’s about to change.
On Aug. 28, Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara led the inauguration of a typhoon-resilient, two-story, 10-classroom building at Baras Central Elementary School, one of several disaster-ready school facilities rising across Catanduanes. These buildings are designed to withstand the island’s frequent brushes with extreme weather.
“This is a priority of President Marcos Jr., which is why the budget for 2026 is 18 percent higher, as mentioned in his State of the Nation Address,” Angara told reporters.
He said that he structures are meant to endure the province’s frequent extreme weather and ensure uninterrupted education even after powerful storms.
TGP party list Rep. Jose “Bong” Teves Jr., who initiated and sourced funding for the project, said the building is not just a physical structure but a statement that “education should not stop, rain or shine.”
“This school building gives students a safe space to learn. We want to eliminate the usual scenario where classes are suspended for weeks,” Teves said in a phone interview with the Inquirer on Sunday.
Solar-powered
Ma. Jeany Abayon, assistant schools division superintendent and officer in charge of the Schools Division Office in Catanduanes, said the newly opened building is equipped with solar panels and built according to disaster-resilient standards.
“We really need this because we’re constantly hit by typhoons. And when that happens, there’s no electricity on the entire island,” she said.
With solar power available, classes can continue even in the aftermath of strong typhoons: “These solar-powered, typhoon-proof school buildings, which are now present in almost all municipalities in the province, assure the continuous delivery of education, even after calamities. We hope other old buildings will also be replaced with structures like this in the coming years.”
The other public schools equipped with solar panels are Pagsangahan Integrated School in San Miguel town; Calatagan National High School in Virac; Suchan Elementary School in Bagamanoc; and Sitio Barrio Site Elementary School in Cagraray, Bato; Baldoc Integrated School in Pandan; Codon Elementary School in San Andres; Palumbanes Integrated School in Caramoran; Tinago National High School in Viga; San Miguel Central Elementary School; Hawan National High School and Magnesia National High School both in Virac; Pananaogan Elementary School in Bato; Siay Elementary School in San Miguel; Baras Rural Development High School; Batalay Elementary School and Bote Integrated School both in Bato.
“One good thing about the solar-powered system is that we also have water, since it’s integrated into the electrical design,” Abayon said.
DepEd Bicol director Gilbert Sadsad, in a private message on Aug. 30, said the structures would not only reduce electricity costs but also promote environmental awareness among students.
