A fire broke out in a school in Guimbal town, Province of Iloilo and destroyed five classrooms.

Shortage of classrooms persists in Western Visayas, so that the fire is deemed to have compounded the challenges at Cabasi-Sta. Rosa Integrated School in Barangay Santa Rosa Laguna, Guimbal town where a dawn fire broke out on August 18, 2024.

The fire also razed tables, chairs, books and other learning materials.

According to Guimbal Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), a teacher who happened to be staying at school when the fire happened said that the light flickered first and the electric fan stopped working. When the teacher went out to check, the flames already engulfed the classrooms.

“Sa kanyang salaysay, patay-sindi raw ang ilaw at namatay ang electric fan. Kaya siya nagtaka. Nang lumabas na sya, malaki na ang apoy,” FO2 Rey Angelo Giro, arson investigator at Guimbal Fire Station, said.

Guimbal Fire Station said that the electric power line could have caused the fire. Investigation is ongoing, as of posting time.

The classrooms were constructed in the 1970s.

Damage reached over P3 million.

At least 122 learners are affected by the loss of their classrooms. Adjustments were made to pad a disruption of classes.

“Ang aming Grade 1, 3 classes with 61 learners affected, ginagawang 2 classes. In-accommodate namin ang room, ang ICT and Grade 5 room. Then ang aming Grade 2 with 2 classes with 61 learners affected, ni-utilize namin ang room ng kinder and junior high school,” Cesar Estabalaya, school principal of Cabasi-Sta. Rosa Integrated School, said.

Stakeholders provided furniture to the said school.

According to the Schools Division of Iloilo, they are waiting for an official report from the school management on the incident.

“Ang ating Schools Division Superintendent has also coordinated with our LR (Learning Resource) section at ang ating Supply Office at neighboring districts natin kasi I’m sure may schools and districts naman na may excess na learning materials na pwede nating ma-share muna,” DepEd Iloilo Information Officer Leonil Salvilla said.