National officers of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) last week spearheaded the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a “green,” typhoon resilient building at Poniton Elementary School in Virac.
Led by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Assistant Secretary and PICE National President Ador Canlas, the group joined Mayor Samuel Laynes, DepEd Division Superintendent Dr. Susan Collano, Poniton ES Principal Raquel Alfon, and barangay chairman Jocelyn Beo in lowering the time capsule containing a copy of the building plans and a Tribune issue.
Four other PICE national directors were present: president-elect April Frances Agatha Flores, business manager Restituto Bautista, PRO Ixuperio Bonzon and Dir. Percival Panopio.
Also present were officers of PICE Quezon City Chapter led by Pres. Flora Ruiz and the PICE Catanduanes Chapter headed by Pres. Gil Augustus Balmadrid, Virac Water District manager Gabriel Tejerero, the CatSU Junior PICE Chapter, members of the Poniton barangay council, teachers and PTA officers.
Assec. Canlas, former DE Balmadrid, Pres. Ruiz and SDS Collano signed a memorandum of agreement covering the construction of a one-storey multi-purpose building under the PICE Green Engineering Project (PGEP) at the school.
In his keynote address, Canlas said the project was an offshoot of devastation caused by typhoons in Bicol, Tacloban, Leyte and Siargao, Surigao del Norte, with the PICE launching a design competition for the PGEP Building and offering financial assistance to build three such buildings.
He said they found out that 90 percent of the structures in said areas were damaged or destroyed and this challenged the PICE National Board of Directors to come up with engineering interventions to ensure buildings would withstand whatever calamities would occur.
After Yolanda, he recalled, the DPWH has to revise its structural parameters, especially on wind load which was increased to 340 kph for Zone III.
“We could not remain stagnant as civil engineers, we should take the initiative,” he stressed.
The PICE’s financial assistance of P1 million for the construction of the building will be released to the Catanduanes Chapter officers this Nov. 11 during the plenary session of the PICE national convention in Bacolod City.
Saying that the amount would not be enough, Assec. Canlas disclosed that the DPWH Regional Director, Virgilio Eduarte, has expressed his commitment that the building would be completed.
In his message, Mayor Laynes expressed gratitude for the kind gesture of the PICE in bringing the project to Virac.
He cited the resilience of the Catandunganon in the face of disasters, which he said his administration seeks to enhance further by protecting the environment.
PICE Quezon City Pres. Ruiz remarked that it was in June 2022 that the chapter submitted its entry to the PGEP design competition, with the PICE Board approving the winning design in August.
She said the first choice for the project site was Legazpi City but, unfortunately, it was discovered that the lot was privately-owned.
A second site was later discarded, with Ruiz contacting PICE Catanduanes Vice Pres. Ariel Tabirara, who immediately called Laynes to ask for a possible site, with Poniton eventually getting the nod.
She lauded the local chapter for accepting responsibility for implementing the project on behalf of the QC chapter and for lending its full support to the PGEP.
In response, Pres. Balmadrid vowed to start construction as soon as the funds are transferred and to complete the project by next year.
He bared that the mayor has already agreed to donate the needed sand and to ensure the approval of the building permit.
The multi-purpose building that will be built at the back portion of the Poniton Elementary School is a typhoon-resistant structure with features of a green building with solar lighting to ensure its continued serviceability even during nighttime and so does not rely on power grid line.
It is also designed to provide a safe haven for local residents especially during calamities.
According to Dir. Panopio and the project designer, Engr. Diocel Harold Aquino, the building’s thick polycarbonate windows can be adapted locally while fallen timber can be used to fabricate the doors.
The GI roof can generate 63,000 liters of water from the rainwater harvesting system while the openings provide passive lighting to save on electricity costs.
As the building was originally designed for Legazpi City, the designer adjusted the wind load to account for higher wind gusts in Catanduanes.
Engr. Aquino said they saw the engineering designs adapted in Catanduanes, particularly the concrete slab roofing, concrete gutters and typhoon guards, which can be adapted in other regions.
Saying that they learned a lot from local construction practices, he assured that the PGEP building will stand the test of time and conserve the resources of Mother Nature at the same time.
In response, DepEd Catanduanes SDS Collano thanked the PICE for its generous donation and, along with the teachers and parents, vowed to take care of the building for the benefit of the pupils.
Poniton Elementary School sits on top of a small hill in the midst of the barangay proper and has a total of 88 pupils from Grades 1 to 6.
Teachers and PTA officers interviewed by the Tribune said that there were originally two school buildings, with one of them – a two-classroom one – built by the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry more than 10 years ago.
During super typhoon Rolly, both buildings were damaged, with the two-classroom building losing its roof.
With the school not included in the P700-million rehabilitation and repair project of DepEd last year, the teachers and parents were forced to use the school’s Maintenance and Other Operating Expenditures (MOOE) to repair one building, with the balance chipped in by parents themselves and solicited materials from local politicians.
PICE NATIONAL OFFICIALS led by its President, DPWH Assec. Ador Canlas (foreground, center) joins Virac Mayor Samuel Laynes (right) and PICE Catanduanes Pres. Gil Augustus Balmadrid (left) in burying the time capsule for the construction of the PGEP Green and Resilient Building at the Poniton Elementary School last Nov. 5, 2022.