Teachers suspect arson
BAYAMBANG SCHOOL BLAZE
BAYAMBANG—Leaving some 540 pupils in Grades I and II without a classroom on the very first week of the new school year, the June 6 fire at the Bayambang Central School (BCS) here is suspected to be a possible case of arson.
Some teachers and parents expressed strong suspicions about the cause of the fire because the blaze spread so quickly.
Senior Fire Officer 2 Jose Beltran of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) initially reported that they found the origin of the blaze to be faulty electrical wiring, but added that it was inconclusive as the investigation was still ongoing and final determination can only be known in two weeks.
The blaze was first noticed by a guard of CSI Bayambang, which is in front of the school, and immediately reported it to the school janitor, who in turn called the police.
Responding firemen from Bayambang and the nearby towns of Bautista and Alcala put the blaze under control after two hours.
Twelve classrooms made mostly of wood materials, including all equipment and books, were totally burned down.
2ND TIME
The teachers and parents noted that last week’s fire was the second within a 4-week period, the first being on May 10, which was quickly put out.
The first incident appeared to have been started by an arsonist who sneaked inside one of the Grade IV classrooms by boring a hole on its wooden wall and once inside, set fire on piled books.
The school community immediately speculated that the blaze had to do with a proposed deal offered by a group of investors led by a businessman from Dagupan City to swap a its lot in another barangay for the three-hectare BCS lot where the group plans to construct a shopping mall.
The opposition to the proposal has been strong since the school is considered one of the oldest in the country, particularly the Gabaldon Building which is century old having been built in May 1912.
A message scribbled on a stone in front of the school read “Ipaglaban ang BCS!!!. Huwag Ilipat. Laban tayo mga magulang!” has been put up but no one from the school has owned to it
SHIFT SYSTEM
Danilo Lopez, BCS principal, said all the Grades I and II pupils have been advised to stay home last week and their classes will resume on May 11 under a two-shift system to accommodate all the displaced students.
Under this system, the Grades I and II pupils will hold classes in rooms reserved for Grades II and IV pupils in the morning while the pupils in Grades III and IV will attend classes in the afternoon.
Lopez has also asked the BFP for a thorough investigation to clear all doubts and speculations on the cause of the fire.
“I am new to my job, having succeeded only in August last year and did not know what happened before,” Lopez said.
He was told that public hearings regarding the proposed swap deal were held previously, during which parents expressed strong opposition for sentimental reasons.
Lopez said his predecessor, the late Dr. Erlinda de Guzman, did not leave documents relating to ownership of the school’s lot but he is confident it is owned by the Department of Education.
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