Many schools remain closed
BINALONAN–The water has subsided but classes remain suspended in some of the heavily- flooded areas in the province because of the thick mud left behind and damaged school facilities.
Dr. Viraluz Raguindin, schools division superintendent of Pangasinan 2 of the Department of Education, told The PUNCH that teachers, parents and other members of the communities are continuously contributing to the massive clearing operations.
Towns and cities under the DepEd Pangasinan 2 division were heavily damaged, particularly school buildings in Umingan, Tayug, Asingan, Sta. Maria, Rosales, Villasis, Bautista, Alcala, Mangaldan, San Fabian, Urdaneta City and parts of Sison and Binalonan.
Raguindin said they intend to re-open the schools by Monday, October 26.
MUD AND SNAKES
In Rosales, one of the worst- affected towns, clearing and cleaning of the Robert Estrella National High School and the Carmen East Elementary School which were all covered in thick mud carried by the flood water following the sudden release of water from the San Roque Dam, continue without let-up.
The Puelay Elementary School in nearby Villasis town suffered the same impact.
Raguindin said aside from the clearing and reconstruction work, the threat posed by snakes that found their way inside classrooms and school premises kept classes suspended.
“Another danger is the crawling snakes as big as finger-size and about one foot or more long,” she said.
In Urdaneta City, Mayor Amadeo Perez Jr. sent some city hall employees to augment the workforce in affected schools to hasten their rehabilitation.
To make up for the lost school days spent for clearing operations, the scheduled semestral vacation will no longer be observed, double shifts will be adopted, and Saturday classes will be held, according to Raguindin.#
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