Disaster-resilient building to rise in Ormoc

ORMOC CITY, Oct. 6 -- A new disaster-resilient multipurpose building funded by non-government organizations will soon rise in a secondary school campus in this city.

Officials held a ceremonial groundbreaking on Thursday for the PHP2-million multipurpose building donated by the ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, Inc. in partnership with Energy Development Corporation (EDC) at the Margen National High School.

The foundation’s deputy director Marcel Rinon said the school is one of the four recipients nationwide. He said the availability of space and community participation is among the considerations as recipient.

“We are ready to help people who are willing to help themselves and their communities,” Rinon said, adding that funds do not come from the Lopez family who owns the network, but from various philanthropist groups that entrusted their resources to the foundation.

Leonardo Ablaza, EDC project manager, said the two-storey multipurpose building will have eight classrooms equipped with chairs, and ceiling fans – four rooms for lecture at the second floor, and another four at the ground floor for laboratory subjects.

He added that there will be a ramp for persons with disabilities, fire alarm, separate space for evacuation in times of disasters, and bathroom and kitchen for the evacuees.

Ablaza described the building as disaster-resilient that can withstand 300 kilometer per hour winds, and magnitude 7 earthquake.

School head Annabelle Palacio thanked donors and partners for the project, and promised to take good care of the donation. 

“We may not reciprocate what you have done in monetary aspect, but one thing we can promise - we will utilize the building as if our own home kindled with love, care and passion.”

Margen National High School was a previous recipient of a two-classroom school building project by ABS-CBN Foundation, which was turned over in June last year.

The village, in particular, is a relocation site for some 1,400 housing units of the National Housing Authority’s "Yolanda" rehabilitation project, which are presently under construction.

The school management is expecting an increase in and the new classrooms will be a great help in accommodating larger student population.(JBP/PNA)