ALCALA, Cagayan – A floating classroom saved learning materials and school equipment from being destroyed by flood triggered by severe tropical storm “Paeng” here.
Rosalyn Guieb, officer-in-charge, Damurog Elementary School, said she had the idea of a floating classroom where they could store and protect their properties after residents of Barangay Damurog built floating houses in 2012 or 10 years ago.
Guieb said P330,000 was spent to build a floating classroom made out of three materials – metal purlins as wall and floor, metal roof, and heavy duty plastic drums.
The metal flooring is covered by cement.
According to westernstatesmetalroofing.com, a metal purlin is a lightweight, horizontal beam or bar that is used for structural support in roofing.
The website also said that it also provides support and increases a building's resistance to heavy winds.
“Purlins are a key component to the secondary frame of commercial, residential, and industrial metal buildings,” according to the website.
Thirty-two heavy duty plastic drums serve as flotation device for the floating classroom. When flood strikes, these plastic drums lift the floating classroom up.
In November 2020, thousands of pesos in properties in floating houses were saved from floods caused by tropical cyclone “Ulysses.’’
Because of this, Guieb pushed the creation of at least one floating classroom.
The floating classroom is small, about four meters by four meters, and was built in three months, from January to March 2021.
Last October, floating classroom saved school documents from being wasted by Paeng.
Guieb said flood in Barangay Damurod had almost reached the roof of the school buildings, an event which she did not expect.
She urged schools in this province to build floating classrooms to keep their properties from harm.
Guieb added these floating classrooms will benefit students and teachers as they can also be a library and computer room.
The Franciscan Apostolic Sisters of Sta. Ana, led by Sister Minerva Caampued, helped build the floating classroom.