The boy, despite falling more than 50 feet, survived and was reportedly sent home by physicians at the Rizal Medical Center on Shaw Boulevard, Pasig City, where he was rushed after the incident.

On Sunday DepEd officials assured that they will look into the danger posed by the fire escape at the Mabini Building were the boy fell.

A report received by Oliver Hernandez, officer in charge of DepEd’s Administrative Service, said the boy was apparently left unattended by his mother, identified as Teofelyn Sinabjan, a teacher from Nueve de Pebrero Elementary School in Mandaluyong City.

The report said the mother, with her son in tow, went to the DepEd central office at the University of Life complex in Pasig City at about 10 a.m on Wednesday to follow up some papers at the IBM Section in Room 308 at the third floor of Mabini Building.

The report said the roving guard, Danilo Catague, saw the boy playing on the hallway at the third floor of the building. His mother who was looking for Room 308 apparently did not notice that her son lost his grip.

It was at this point that the boy reached the extreme right portion of the hallway where the open hole, which serves as fire escape and fell to the second floor.

During the commemoration of the United Nations (UN)-declared International Day for Disaster Reduction, which falls every October 13, the Philippines also observes the Association of Southeast Asian Nation Day for Disaster Management along with other Asean member-countries.

During the event, Education Undersecretary Lino Rivera reiterated the role of the department in managing the impact of disasters and the need for vigilance by school communities so that the risk from natural and man-made disasters is significantly, if not totally, reduced.

“It is important that government agencies and our partners in the private sector work together in formulating, planning and implementing disaster-risk reduction policies, plans and projects,” Rivera said.

Many people around the world have lost or are in danger of losing their lives, properties and access to basic services every time natural disasters strike. Disasters such as earthquakes, droughts, typhoons, hurricanes, flooding and fires have caused untold suffering to people especially among children.

The UN acknowledges that education, training and information exchanges are effective ways to help people become better equipped in overcoming natural disasters.