THE Department of Education (DepEd) and the local government of Cabuyao City launched an investigation into the surprise fire drill done in a school in the city that sent more than 100 students to the hospital due to dehydration and hunger.

DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said they want to get the details of what transpired last Thursday at the Gulod National High School Extension- Mamatid in Cabuyao City.

“We want to get the details of what transpired and make improvements para maiwasan ‘yung incidents similar to what transpired in Cabuyao,” Poa said.

The City School Division of Cabuyao City said two students remain confined at the Cabuyao City Hospital while the others were already discharged as of Friday and are in stable condition.

Cabuyao police chief Lt. Col Jack Angog said at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, they received an information from Bobby Abinal of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office about the incident that transpired at the senior high school in Mamatid.

Golud National High School OIC principal Grace Lamano said the earthquake and fire drills are being conducted in the school every month.

An investigation showed that while the students were conducting the drill, over a hundred of them fainted.

Around 2,000 students participated in the activity.

Teachers immediately sought help from the barangay officials, who called the CDRRMO.

Rescue ambulances arrived and rushed the affected students to Cabuyao City Hospital and Ospital ng Cabuyao for immediate medical attention.

Abinal said the school officials did not coordinate with the local government unit on the fire drill..

“Ang patakaran po rito ay may number of students na kailangan at tapos po ay informed po ang students na may fire drill na gagawin,” Abinal explained, adding that even the office of the Bureau of Fire Protection was not informed of the activity.

“Ang lahat-lahat 104…Dinala po lahat sa hospital,” Abrinal added.

Following the incident, Cabuyao City Mayor Dennis Hain has ordered the suspension of classes on Friday.

Hain said classes would resume on March 27 while they investigate the reason for the students’ hospitalization.

In a statement on Friday, the City Schools Division of Cabuyao said 2,121 Grades 8, 9, 11, and 12 students from GNHS conducted an unannounced earthquake and fire drill at the campus grounds at 3:20 p.m. on Thursday.]

After the fire drill, the students complained of dizziness and difficulty in breathing.

The Department of Health has warned the public against heat-induced sickness from heat stroke and dehydration after the state weather bureau declared the start of the summer season on March 21.

The afternoon fire drill was done when the temperature was between 39 to 42°C, Abrinal said.

With Gil Aman