Last Sunday afternoon, Jan. 7, 2023, the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE), through the PICE Quezon City Chapter and its local partner, the PICE Catanduanes Chapter, formally turned over to DepEd officials the typhoon-resilient multi-purpose building it recently completed at Poniton Elementary School.
DPWH Regional Director Virgilio Eduarte, who is also PICE regional coordinator, represented the PICE national leadership along with PICE NCR coordinator and past PICE QC chapter president Flora Ruiz, in handing over the symbolic key to Chief Education Supervisor Mary Jean Romero, who represented SDS Socorro dela Rosa, Virac North PSDS Elias Abundo and Poniton ES Principal Raquel Alfon.
The turnover and signing of documents were also witnessed by Virac Mayor Samuel Laynes, other PICE QC chapter officers, the PICE Catanduanes Chapter headed by Pres. Ariel Tabirara, DPWH Catanduanes District Engineer Dennis Cagomoc and ADE Maximo Eleda, ADE Noland Guerrero, and barangay officials headed by Chairman Rebecca Vergara.
The turnover happened more than a year after the project groundbreaking on Nov. 5, 2022 in a ceremony attended by now-DPWH Undersecretary Ador Canlas.
Construction of the one-storey structure began sometime in February 2023, with the project allocated a funding of P1 million under a design competition launched by the PICE National Board.
PICE QC chapter’s Engr. Diocel Harold Aquino submitted the winning design for the green building to be equipped with solar lighting and strong enough to withstand the ferocious winds of typhoons in Bicol, incorporating a higher wind load for the steel truss roofing.
The chapter considered three sites – Legazpi City, Tabloban and Siargao – and initially chose Legazpi. However, it learned that the building would be built inside the Bicol University campus, which would require approval from the Board of Trustees.
Luckily, Engr. Tabirara offered Virac as an alternative site, coordinating with Mayor Laynes who selected Poniton ES.
At that time and until now, the school’s main two-classroom building destroyed by super typhoon Rolly has remained unrepaired, with its pupils making do with two cramped temporary learning centers built at the sides.
Laynes was able to send the required documents, including the building permit, that enabled PICE QC chapter to finally give its approval.
As the revised design pushed the cost past the available funding, the sponsoring chapter and its local chapter secured donations and support from Virac Tri-Dom Construction Corporation, which delivered free sand and gravel; RD Eduarte, who provided additional funds; Al-Jon Construction and Development Corporation headed by Alexander Ang Hung, which donated cement; NQA Construction and Supply care of Engr. Christopher Ang for donated cement and discounted materials; Davies Paints, for painting materials and labor; and the barangay council and residents.
According to a PICE Catanduanes official, the building cost eventually came up to a total of P1.6 million, not including the value of the donations.
DepEd Catanduanes can only dream of having its schools built the same way.
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GOD IS IN THE CLINIC. In a psychiatrist’s waiting room two patients are having a conversation. One says to the other, “Why are you here?”
The second answers, “I’m Napoleon, so the doctor told me to come here.”
The first is curious and asks, “How do you know that you’re Napoleon?”
The second responds, “God told me I was.”
At this point, a patient on the other side of the room shouts, “NO I DIDN’T!”