LEGAZPI CITY – Education Secretary Jesli A. Lapus inaugurated here recently the first earthquake-and typhoon-resistant school building in the country.

        Constructed inside the Bagumbayan Central School campus in this city, the learning and public use building was turned over by Secretary Lapus to Nicolas Revale, BCS principal, during turn-over ceremonies.

        According to the Education Secretary, the Lapus building which he had conceptualized will serve not only as a learning center or classroom but also serve as an evacuation center in times of calamities.

        The DepEd Educational Facilities Handbook was also launched on the same occasion. Each regional physical facilities coordinator from all over the country received copies of the handbook on survival.

        “We will add one or two more Lapus buildings in Legazpi City. Another sturdy building will soon rise at Buyuan Elementary School in Barangay Buyuan.

        “The DepEd will build 28 more Lapus buildings in Legazpi City but the priority are schools frequently used as evacuation centers,” he said.

        “I actually feel embarrassed to call this a Lapus building although it was my idea that DepEd must construct a dual purpose building - - one for learning and second to be used as an evacuation center,” the DepEd chief said.

        He added that “this (one-story) building is made of reinforced concrete and it is designed to be typhoon-and earthquake resistant. It is elevated one meter higher to protect those inside from flood.”

        He revealed that this school building can accommodate two classes of up to 63 students and can provide shelter to up to 12 families. It has also a bathroom and a kitchen.

        DepEd, he said, spent less than P300,000 for the construction of this model which is typhoon and earthquake resistant.

        Furthermore, Lapus disclosed that the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) will adopt this model building and want more to be constructed in Region 5 which is prone to disasters.

        ‘This building is in response to the lessons we learned from past disasters like typhoons Milenyo and Reming,” Lapus said.

        Earlier, the Education Secretary and party motored to Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon to inaugurate a 7-classroom building donated by GMA Kapuso Foundation.

        Aside from Secretary Lapus, the other guests include DepEd Undersecretary Vilma Labrador, Director Celedonio Layon of Dep Ed Region 5, Legazpi City Schools Division Supt. Alice Ternel and Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal.