Typhoon-devastated school in Surigao gets new building
The SBFI school building is disaster-resilient, strategically elevated one meter from the ground to safeguard the classrooms against flooding
Daily TribuneThe SBFI school building is disaster-resilient, strategically elevated one meter from the ground to safeguard the classrooms against flooding
Representatives from SBFI, Security Bank Corporation, Surigao City LGU, Department of Education Division of Surigao City and students and faculty of Surigao West Central Elementary School at the handover of the ceremonial key to the new building. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF SECURITY BANK
With its recent donation of a two-story, six-classroom building, Security Bank Foundation Inc. is helping Surigao West Central Elementary School in Surigao City bounce back from the devastating and lingering impact of super typhoon "Odette" in 2021.
The new SBFI school building is disaster-resilient, strategically elevated one meter from the ground to safeguard the classrooms against flooding. Rigorous soil testing also preceded construction to ensure a strong foundation. The building also features steel beams and columns to ensure strength against earthquakes.
Before the construction of the building, SBFI donated 580 galvanized iron roofing sheets to the same school to replace the roofs of classrooms damaged by "Odette's" strong winds.
SBFI's commitment to sustaining the structural integrity of the new school building extends to its annual monitoring and major repair at least every five years, or when a disaster strikes, to ensure the structure's usability for at least 25 years.
"We are very grateful for SBFI's commitment to education and community development. Their initiative is a great reminder that when the private sector and public institutions join hands for a noble cause, the impact is immeasurable," said Dr. Arlene Boquillon, principal of the Surigao West Central School.
Present during the turnover ceremony of the school building were representatives from the local government unit and the Department of Education Division of Surigao City. They collaborated with SBFI on the project by supplying classroom chairs and tables, extending building permits and shouldering the demolition of the old structure in the building's site.
"The classrooms that SBFI have donated will serve as a catalyst to open the door for unlimited opportunities for generations of students to succeed," said Pablo Yves Dumlao II, mayor of Surigao City.
"The investment SBFI has made not only manifests their desire to make education a priority, but has given our school children the opportunity to learn in a more convenient and conducive environment," said Surigao West Central Elementary School English teacher Girlie Trugillo, who is a participant of SBFI's three-year training program entitled "Mentoring Future Leaders for Nation-Building."
Trugillo is trained in crafting model lesson plans for both advanced and struggling learners, creating effective assessments and activating stakeholder engagement to support learning improvements in the community.
With the donation to Surigao City, Surigao del Norte, SBFI has donated a total of 747 classrooms across 132 schools in 76 cities and municipalities nationwide.
"We're proud to be considered by DepEd as one of the biggest donors for the Adopt-a-School Program. Still, we acknowledge that government funding is not sufficient to address the shortage of classrooms nationwide, which is why we shall continue our commitment to improving the quality of education," said SBFI chairman Rafael F. Simpao Jr.
