How to Solve the Problem of School Children Drowning by River Crossings in Remote Schools in the Provinces

Fact: Children were caught in flashfloods as they cross rivers on the way home from school. This is a problem in communities in remote schools in my province. A number of fatalities happen every year or so during rainy season. This problem is recurring which means that this has not been addressed up front for years.

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Problem: Children crossing rivers don't know how to assess danger or dangers that are about to come.

Possible solutions:

1. Safety conscious children who knows how to identify dangers and can make a decision for their safety.
2. Safe bridge or footbridges to cross.
3. Temporary shelters, food, water and light in school during floods.

How to achieve the solutions:

This problem can be addressed effectively on four levels: household level, school level, barangay level and municipal level.

Household level:

• Parents can warn/teach the children not to cross the rivers when: (1) Dark clouds appear even when there is no rain because it could rain in the mountains and bring flashfloods; (2) When rain is heavy and there is no footbridge to cross; (3) When they see flood starting.
• Parents to have access to listen to weather forecasts on radio.
• Parents to organize children into groups so that they can assign an older child to be in-charged when children need to stay in school for temporary shelter.
• Parents to repeat safety instructions every moment possible.
• Who can implement this solution: Parents; college students; concerned neighbours; young people
• Cost: There is no cost involved in this household level solution.
• This solution level fails when: (1) Parents are not vigilant; (2) When children are disobedient
• Implementation Challenge: Easy

School level:

• The school head and teachers can assess dangers, decide for the children's safety and stay with the children during floods or expectation of floods.
• The school can provide the rooms as temporary shelter.
• The school can stock emergency food, water and lights.
• The school can put signs on river crossings: 'DO NOT CROSS RIVER when: (1) Dark clouds are around even without rain (it might be raining in the mountains; (2) When it is raining; and (3) When there is flood.
• School can provide safety posters and reminders at school and at home.
• Repeat safety lessons at least everyday during rainy season.
• The School Division head can identify which schools are on high risk of river-crossing dangers.
• Who can implement this solution: school heads, teachers, parents' associations, youth clubs, NGOs, outdoor clubs
• Cost: The cost is low, a budget for emergency food such as rice, can and dry goods and stocks of water, lights and battery are what is needed.
• This solution level fails when: (1) Teachers fail to read the danger signs; (2) Failure to implement emergency plan; (3) Children are disobedient to teachers; (4) The school lacks initiative to find resources
• Implementation Challenge: Moderate

Barangay level:

• The barangay can provide safe infrastructure such as bridge or footbridge.
• The barangay can provide the safety warning signages.
• The barangay can provide emergency shelter needs (food, water, light).
• The barangay can provide river crossing watchmen/volunteers during rainy seasons.
• The barangay can provide safety posters and reminders at home, school and public places.
• The barangay can do house-to-house awareness campaign for safety.
• Who can implement this solution: Barangay Captain; Barangay Officials; Concerned Citizens; NGOs
• Cost: The cost is high for infrastructure; low for signage and river-crossing and adult volunteers.
• This solution level fails when: (1) When infrastructure is not of good quality; (2) Severe weather; (3) Lack of monitoring and follow through; (4) The barangay leader lacks initiative to find resources
• Implementation Challenge: Moderate

Municipal level:

• The municipality can impose legislation of safety on river crossings.
• The mucipality can provide funds for infrastructure.
• The municipality can require all barangay leaders to comply with safety regulations.
• The municipality can census all schools with river crossings and prioritize immediate intervention.
• Who can implement this solution: Mayor, councilors, NGOs
• Cost: High for concrete bridges; Moderate for footbridges
• This solution level fails when: (1) Lack of prioritization and concern; (2) Slow implementation; (3) Lack of cooperation; (4) No funds or the mayor lacks initiative to find resources
• Implementation Challenge: Moderate

Solution Success Gurantee: Even if only one stakeholder level implements the solutions effectively, there is high probablility of success; if these are implemented at all levels then there is very high hope that we don't see children drowning again.

Prepared by: Roy Ponce