Schools provide refuge to typhoon victims
More than the gift of education, the schools in the country once again provided the muchneeded refuge to victims of typhoon Ruby (international name Hagupit) who had nowhere to go when the typhoon destroyed their houses and temporary shelters.
Eighteen schools of member-companies, partners, and donors of Philippine Business for Social Progress, which are either completed or in different stages of construction have been used as evacuation centers of 362 families and 1,270 individuals from seven provinces in the Visayas Region.
In northern Cebu, the schools were San Jose Elementary School (donated by Deloitte) in Bantayan, Guadalupe Elementary School ( CTBC) in Bogo City, Ilihan Integrated School ( CTBC), Tapilo Elementary School and Bagay Elementary School (Australian Government) in Bantayan.
In Tacloban, the schools-turned-evacuation centers were Panalaron Elementary School (Mondelez), and the newlyconstructed Marasbaras Elementary School (CocaCola Foundation).
The San Francisco Elementary School donated by Fluor Daniel was also used as temporary shelter by typhoon victims in Isabel, Leyte, while Dr. Serafica Elementary School (CocaCola Foundation) was converted as evacuation center in Ormoc.
In Iloilo, a number of families sought refuge at Bancal Elementary School ( Ace) and Estancia Elementary School ( Yes Pinoy). Another of CocaCola Foundation’s Little Red Schoolhouses in Capiz, the Dr. E. Abalo Elementary School, was also used by the typhoon victims in the area.
In Samar which was among the hardest hit areas, six schools that were being constructed from the Australian government have also served as evacuation centers. These were Baybay Elementary School in Catarman, Don Julio Avalo National High School, Bantayan National High School, Catarman Central School II, Catarman Central School I, and Catarman National High School in northern Samar.