
Teachers, volunteers, and Quezon City staff cleaned Masambong Elementary School after monsoon rains flooded the campus on Aug. 20. No word yet on when classes will resume.
Teachers, volunteers, and local government staff gathered at Masambong Elementary School in Quezon City on Aug. 20, cleaning classrooms and hallways after monsoon rains submerged the campus, a photo caption showed.
The school, located in the flood-prone San Francisco del Monte district, was among several in Metro Manila hit by heavy rainfall that swelled drainage canals and left classrooms under inches of water. The cleanup involved sweeping out mud and debris, according to the caption attributed to photographer John Orven Verdote. No injuries were reported.
Monsoon season in the Philippines typically peaks from July to September, with August often bringing the heaviest downpours. The state weather bureau, PAGASA, had earlier warned of enhanced monsoon rains due to a low-pressure area east of the country, though the agency has not issued a specific statement about the Masambong flooding.
The Quezon City government has not announced when classes will resume at the school. The Department of Education, which oversees public schools nationwide, usually suspends classes when schools are used as evacuation centers or suffer flood damage. In past monsoon events, schools in flood-hit areas have faced delays of a week or more while facilities are dried and inspected for structural safety.
Masambong Elementary serves roughly 2,000 students from kindergarten through grade six, according to the Department of Education's school directory. The building, a single-story concrete structure built in the 1980s, sits near the San Francisco del Monte creek, which overflows during heavy rain. Residents in nearby barangays have also reported flooded streets and damaged homes, though the city government has not released a broader damage assessment.
Flooding during the monsoon season is a recurring problem for Metro Manila, where poor drainage systems and rapid urbanization leave low-lying areas vulnerable. The cleanup at Masambong highlights the logistical challenge of reopening schools after heavy weather, a process that involves cleaning, disinfection, and repairs before students can return.
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