BY IME SORNITO and GLENDA TAYONA
ILOILO – Several local government units (LGUs) in Western Visayas with schools allowed to hold limited face-to-face classes were forced to suspend them yesterday due to inclement weather.
The safety of learners was paramount, stressed Hernani Escullar Jr., information officer of the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6.
He confirmed that in-person classes were halted in the following areas (as of 2 p.m. on Monday):
* Bacolod City – Alangilan Farm School, Alangilan National High School, Rafael Alunan Elementary School, Apolinario Mabini Elementary School, Andres Bonifacio Elementary School, ETCS III Elementary School
* Capiz – municipality of Maayon
* Iloilo province – towns of Janiuay, Carles, New Lucena, Bingawan, Barotac Viejo, Badiangan, Ajuy, Maasin, and Passi City
* Negros Occidental – Sagay City, Silay City, Victorias City, San Carlos City, Cadiz City, La Carlota City, E.B. Magalona, Calatrava, Talisay City, Murcia, Valladolid, Manapla, Hinigaran, and Don Salvador Benedicto
“LGU declaration gid (is needed) pag-suspend sang classes because man sang tropical depression,” said Escullar.
“As a precautionary measure and in anticipation of any developments that may arise due to the weather disturbance, it is deemed expedient to implement a localized cancellation or suspension of classes in the municipality of Maasin, and to provide enough time to prepare and keep our students safe at all times,” read part of the executive order issued by Mayor Francis Amboy of Maasin, Iloilo yesterday.
As of March 22, 100 schools in the region were allowed by DepEd to hold in-person classes due to the low cases of coronavirus disease 2019 in their host towns or cities.
In Iloilo City, inclement weather also forced Mayor Jerry Treñas to suspend work at city hall and even the city government’s vaccination drive against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) yesterday.
His Executive Order No. 040 also ordered the suspension of classes although no elementary or high school has yet been allowed to hold face-to-face classes in the city.
As to the work suspension which started 3 p.m. yesterday, the city mayor gave department heads the discretion to identify personnel required to report onsite and to call on additional workforce should it be necessary.
Other public and private establishments, on the other hand, were given the prerogative to determine work arrangements.
Regarding the COVID-19 vaccination, the city mayor said this will resume on Monday next week./PN
