A pre-dawn fire destroyed five classrooms at Cabasi-Sta. Rosa Integrated School in Barangay Cabasi, Guimbal, Iloilo. The blaze broke out around 2:00 AM on Sunday, prompting an immediate response from local fire authorities.
Senior Fire Officer 3 Charlie Nieles, acting municipal fire marshal of the Guimbal Fire Station, reported that three fire trucks were deployed to address the flames. No injuries were reported during the incident, and the fire was declared out by 2:40 AM.
Initial estimates from the Guimbal Fire Station place the damage at approximately P180,000. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Despite the extensive damage, the Department of Education (DepEd) Iloilo assured the public that classes at Cabasi-Sta. Rosa Elementary School will continue.
In an official statement, DepEd Iloilo expressed deep concern over the incident but emphasized its commitment to addressing the situation promptly.
“DepEd Iloilo is saddened by this news. However, we want to assure the public that the Schools Division Office is on top of this situation,” the statement read.
The school head, teachers, Parents-Teachers Association, and various stakeholders are already working together to find a swift solution to the problem.
The fire affected classrooms belonging to three Grade 1 sections and two Grade 2 sections, leaving 126 students without a proper learning space.
Cabasi Barangay Captain Salvador Gomez, Jr. also appealed on Facebook for assistance in providing temporary chairs and long tables for the displaced students pending the results of the official investigation.
