Rainwater seeping into makeshift tent classrooms at San Miguel Elementary School in Cordova, Cebu has created a dangerous learning environment for 380 students, with electrical outlets sitting next to pooled water and extreme heat causing nosebleeds during dry season. Mayor Cesar “Didoy” Suan admitted that students may remain in these temporary shelters for another one to two years, as funding for permanent buildings is stalled by budget limitations.
Water Meets Electrical Outlets
The situation turns dangerous whenever heavy rains hit the campus. School principal Jene Babe Pitac explained that the tent classrooms become completely vulnerable during downpours. A recent storm on Monday, June 29, 2026, escalated safety fears when rainwater breached the tents and pooled right next to active electrical outlets and running fans.
“Rainwater gets into the classroom whenever it rains, that would somehow disrupt the classes and compromise the safety of both teachers and students,” Pitac said. Teachers must act as emergency responders, rushing to cut off power at the main breaker. Grade 6 adviser Ritchelle Pacaldo, who also serves as the school’s clinic designate, said students seated along the sides have to move to the center to avoid getting wet, forcing classes to stop repeatedly.
No Relief in Dry Season
The tents offer no comfort when the weather changes. Pacaldo noted that during the dry season, extreme heat trapped inside the plastic enclosures has caused several students to suffer from elevated body temperatures and nosebleeds. “I hope the building will be completed soon because this is not for the teachers' benefit but for the welfare of the students,” she added.
Even Grade 1 students in permanent structures are not entirely safe. Teacher Josephine Maapaz reported that rainwater still leaks through her ceiling despite recent waterproofing. Teachers now cover desks, textbooks, and lesson materials with clear plastic sheets to keep them dry.
One to Two More Years in Tents
Mayor Suan, after inspecting the campus with the municipal engineering team, acknowledged that rainwater seeps through the Grade 1 ceilings because it passes through an exposed steel framework meant for a second-floor expansion. He admitted that teachers and students might be stuck using the tent classrooms for another one to two years. “We see that the student population in San Miguel is growing, so we are rushing to find ways to help,” he said.
To secure a permanent solution, Suan has requested funding from Cebu 6th District Rep. Daphne Lagon for a new four-story school building, included in the proposed 2027 congressional budget. The municipal government also purchased a 400-square-meter private lot in 2025 for future expansions.
Trapped by Budget Delays
Immediate relief is stalled by government bureaucracy. Principal Pitac revealed that no budget has been allocated for quick roof repairs as of the second quarter of 2026 because the school relies on scarce Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) funds, currently used to hire a security guard since the campus lacks a perimeter fence. To reduce electrical shock risks, the school plans to rewire the tents with individual circuit breakers so teachers can cut off power to single tents.
“We are hoping and asking DepEd to expedite this because this is a serious concern, and right now, we can only provide band-aid solutions,” Suan stated. The financial bottleneck stems from a lack of local funds. Department of Education (DepEd) Public Schools District Supervisor Danilo Manguilimotan explained that ₱10.3 million from the 2024 Special Education Fund (SEF) was used to build existing ground-level classrooms, but building upward stopped when the local school board's budget dried up.
DepEd Cebu Province Schools Division Superintendent Senen Priscillo Paulin confirmed that the school has been endorsed to the DepEd Central Office as a top priority project, but the local division can only recommend sites; the final decision rests with the national Central Office.
Why the School Was Built
Established in 2021, San Miguel Elementary School quickly swelled to 380 students and uses 10 tent classrooms for Grades 2 through 6. Before 2021, San Miguel was the only one of Cordova's 13 barangays without its own school. Master Teacher II Glynn Sumagan recalled that children used to walk long distances along dangerous main roads to reach neighboring schools, vulnerable to traffic hazards. The tents were first set up in May 2021 so local children could study closer to home, and they were fully occupied by 2023 when face-to-face classes resumed after the pandemic. Five years later, these temporary shelters remain the only shields against the elements, as the community waits on the national government to act before a student gets seriously hurt.
