Fire destroys Dangdangla Elementary School; voting proceeds in unaffected rooms

A fire destroyed about 70% of Dangdangla Elementary School in Bangued, Abra early Wednesday morning ahead of the May 12 midterm elections.

Despite the destruction, Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia announced that voting will proceed as planned at the same location using two unaffected rooms within the damaged school and a covered court as a temporary holding area.

The Department of Education (DepEd) is working with Comelec to prepare three remaining classrooms for the elections, ensuring voter safety while parents and community members help clean up debris.

Automated counting machines had not yet been delivered when the fire occurred; however, Comelec plans to resume final testing and sealing procedures once electricity is restored and the building is declared safe by authorities.

Comelec assured that there are no plans to place Abra under its control and emphasized peace and order will be maintained by mobilizing a group of policemen to monitor and supervise the conduct of the elections.

DepEd is seeking help from the national office for restoring burned structures, with potential use of temporary learning spaces or alternative delivery modes (ADM) of learning to avoid class disruption.