TACLOBAN CITY – A fire destroyed three classrooms at the Mapuyo Elementary School in Barangay Mapuyo, Kawayan, Biliran before dawn on Saturday, March 16.

A FIRE destroyed three classrooms of the Mapuyo Elementary School in Biliran on March 16. (Photo courtesy of Gov. Gerard Espina)
A resident noticed smoke coming from one of the classrooms at about 3 a.m. and immediately informed neighbors upon confirming the presence of fire.
After a while, he noticed that the fire disappeared and assumed that somebody had reported the incident to the Bureau of Fire Protection in Kayawan.
However, when he returned after a few minutes, the fire had spread to adjacent classrooms.
Fire out was declared under fire out at 6:27 a.m.
Damage to property was estimated at P1.7 million. No casualties were reported.
Gov. Gerard Espina said they have assessed the damage and identified materials needed to repair the classrooms.
"Uso po sunog ngayong March. Kailangan din nating siguraduhin na ang mga eskwelahan natin ay merong mga fire extinguishers para maiwasan ang ganitong trahedya (Fire is common this month. We need to ensure that our schools have fire extinguishers to prevent these fires)," he added.