Without the invaluable support of various donors, organizations and government agencies, the typhoon-resilient green building recently turned over to Poniton Elementary School in Virac by the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) would not have been realized.
This was stressed by PICE Catanduanes president-elect Roger Reyes following the blessing, inauguration and turnover rites spearheaded by DPWH Regional Director Virgilio Eduarte and PICE officials last Jan. 7, 2024.
The PICE National Office conceptualized the P1-million competition for the typhoon-resilient green building that was eventually won by a design submitted by the PICE Quezon City Chapter, which was represented in the ceremony by Director Flora Ruiz and Engr. Ruel Ramirez.
The chapter considered three sites, with Legazpi City as frontrunner but the honor went to Virac after PICE Catanduanes chapter president Ariel Tabirara contacted Mayor Samuel Laynes, who fast-tracked the processing of permits and other documents at the municipal government.
According to a source, the building construction cost a total of P1.6 million upon completion, with additional funds provided by Dir. Eduarte who also serves as PICE regional coordinator.
The Virac Tri-Dom Construction Corporation provided free gravel and sand while Al-Jon Construction and Development Corporation gave cement.
NQA Construction and Supply also donated cement and gave a generous discount on materials loaned by PICE for the project.
On the other hand, Emsym Construction supplied the scaffolds and base plates as well as discounted process for the steel truss and roof framing. Davies Paints donated painting materials and had the painting itself done by its laborers.
The Catanduanes Contractors Association also sent construction equipment for use at the site.
Also coming in for recognition were the DepEd Division of Catanduanes headed by Schools Division Superintendent Socorro dela Roza, District Supervisor Elias Abundo and Ponitor ES in-charge Raquel Alfon; DPWH Catanduanes Engineering District headed by DE Dennie Cagomoc; Poniton Barangay Council led by Punong Barangay Rebecca Vergara and former PB Jo Beo; and the PICE Catanduanes Chapter officers and members.
Groundbreaking for the project was conducted in November 2022, with the construction started in February 2023 after the design had to be revised to account for the stronger typhoons that pass through Catanduanes.
Mention of the design change prompted DepEd representative Mary Jean Romero, chief of the Schools Governance and Operation Division (SGOD), to remark that the DepEd division office has long dreamed of having typhoon-resilient school buildings.
Noting that school buildings are frequently utilized by local government units as evacuation center, she lamented that now DepEd is hesitant to grant the request as school buildings are usually the first to be destroyed during typhoons.
Romero said that the division cannot do anything about the current design of school buildings as DepEd has only one common design.
She expressed hope that someday the design of school facilities will take into consideration of the location of recipient schools in the typhoon belt, especially those frequented by super typhoons.