CAGAYAN DE ORO -- School officials on Thursday suspended classes in some levels at the City Central School (CCS) after a swarm of honeybees attacked 12 people on Wednesday afternoon.
Alma B. Penonia, CCS assistant to the principal, said the honeybees came from beehive that fell from an Indian tree located inside the school compound around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.
She said the bees attacked four pupils, a teacher, two parents, two janitors, two security guards, and a canteen vendor.
A pupil was confined at the Polymedic General Hospital due to asthma attack. His condition had improved, she said on Friday.
Classes were suspended in Grades 1, 2 and kindergarten as precautionary measure, as the bees transferred to other trees in the compound near the buildings where the grade levels are located.
On Friday, classes in Grades 2 and kindergarten resumed except in Grade 1.
Roel Dahonog, Ecosystem Management specialist of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), said it was the first they encountered such situation and admitted their limited knowledge in dealing with the insect.
He said under Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Act, it is unlawful to kill honeybees, except for some exceptions.
"We will drive them away in a traditional way into the area that is not populated. They are harmless although by nature, they are aggressive labina kung matandog ang ilang balay (When somebody touches their hive)," Dahonog said.
He urged officials of other schools with trees inside their campus to inspect them for possible presence of beehive. He advised them to report at the nearest Department of Agriculture (DA) and DENR offices.
Louie Ofngol, DA entomologist, said that as much as possible, honeybees should be protected, as these are friendly insects and highly effective pollinators.
Ofngol told DENR and school officials that burned dried carabao dung can drive away honeybees. He added the skin of lanzones and the dung of cow are also effective insect repellants.
"The best we can do now is to drive them away from populated area," Ofngol said. (Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex)
