MALOLOS CITY, Philippines – Two two-story buildings of a Catholic school here, built in 1937 and had withstood the war, were razed in a matter of three hours early yesterday morning.
Authorities placed the damage at P20 million in the fire that razed the two buildings of the Immaculate Conception School for Boys (ICSB) located beside the old Malolos Cathedral, which is now known as Basilica Minore de Immaculada Concepcion.
No one was reported injured in the fire. The razed buildings housed classrooms for pre-school and elementary students and the social hall.
Msgr. Pablo Legazpi, ICSB rector, told The STAR that the fire struck at around 3 a.m. yesterday and quickly spread to the two old buildings. He said he was able to move one of the school’s service vehicles to safety, but five others were burned.
“Those were spared during the war and were razed to the ground within hours,†Legazpi said, referring to the two buildings made mostly of wood.
Quoting reports from local firefighters and witnesses, Malolos Mayor Christian Natividad said the fire started outside the school’s perimeter.
One of the witnesses, Abdul Hassan, a security guard at the City of Malolos Water District just across the street, recalled seeing sparks on an electric post outside the school fence at the back of the razed buildings.
Legazpi said kindergarten and elementary students up to Grade 3 will temporarily hold classes at the Barasoain Church, while those from Grades 4 to 4 will hold classes at the school’s Metropolis Subdivision branch for female students.
Legazpi said they plan to hold morning and afternoon shifts for high school students.
He said they expect normal classes to resume on the first week of July. The school has about 2,000 students.
Natividad offered the Malolos City Sports Complex for the ICSB students, but Legazpi said the place is too far especially for their pre-school and elementary pupils.– With Ric Sapnu