ILOILO – The Iloilo Provincial Government on Monday turned over 21 customized tent-type makeshift classrooms to three public high schools with shortages in facilities during the province’s flag-raising ceremony.
Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. led the ceremonial turnover, highlighting the provincial government’s commitment to providing immediate, inclusive, and climate-adaptive solutions for education access under the Bulig Eskwela sang Probinsya (BES Probins) program of MoRProGRes Iloilo.
The recipients included Alimodian National Comprehensive High School, which lost 19 classrooms in a recent fire and received 10 units; Ardemil National High School, which continues to suffer from severe classroom shortages and received 9 units; and Leonora S. Salapantan National High School Extension, which serves geographically isolated learners and received 2 units.
“These makeshift classrooms are not just stop-gap solutions—they are innovations that reflect our urgent and thoughtful response to the needs of our learners,” Defensor said.
Developed by the Provincial School Board (PSB), the classroom tents were the result of site inspections, interagency consultations, and design trials.
PSB Secretary Maria Freda Fajardo shared that the governor drew inspiration from emergency tents used by humanitarian agencies such as the Philippine Red Cross and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Designed by engineers and architects from the Provincial Engineer’s Office and installed by the General Services Office, each tent classroom features elevated ceilings, thermal insulation, electric fan mounts, and lighting provisions.
The units were further field-tested for resilience against wind, rain, and extreme heat at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol grounds earlier this year.
“These modular classrooms are weather-resistant, climate-adapted, and can be assembled quickly in emergency situations… They are also multifunctional—ready to serve as temporary evacuation centers when disasters strike,” Fajardo said.
Moreover, each recipient school was provided with a manual for installation and upkeep. Representatives from the schools also participated in live demonstrations of how to set up and maintain the structures, ensuring proper use and sustainability of the innovation.
