ANTIQUE – Several municipalities in this province suspended classes in anticipation of inclement weather conditions brought by the enhanced southwest monsoon, or habagat, associated with Tropical Cyclone “Betty”.
On Sunday, May 28, local chief executives (LCEs) issued advisories informing learners, teachers, and parents of the suspension.
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) – Antique data showed these municipalities declared suspension of classes:
* San Jose de Buenavista – from preschool to senior high school, both public and private schools (until May 30)
* Barbaza – all levels, both public and private schools
* Valderrama – all levels, both public and private schools
* Hamtic – all levels, both public and private schools
* San Remigio – all levels, both public and private schools
* Sebaste – all levels, both public and private schools
* Caluya – all levels, both public and private schools
* Belison – all levels, both public and private schools
* Tibiao – all levels, both public and private schools
* Tobias Fornier – all levels, both public and private schools
* Pandan – all levels, both public and private schools
* Patnongon – from preschool to senior high school, both in public and private schools
* Culasi – all levels, both public and private schools
* Libertad – from preschool to senior high school, both in public and private schools
* Sibalom – from preschool to senior high school, both in public and private schools
* Bugasong – all levels, both in public and private schools
* Laua-an – all levels, both in public and private schools
* Anini-y – all levels, both in public and private schools
* All University of Antique Campuses – work and classes are suspended
* St. Anthony’s College (College Department) – work and classes are suspended until May 30, 2023.
Hernani Escullar Jr., information officer of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Western Visayas, said all schools that suspended classes shifted to alternative modes of learning, as per DepEd Order 37, or the “Guidelines on the cancellation or suspension of classes and work in schools in the event of natural disasters, power outages, power interruptions, and other calamities”. The order was issued on Sept. 1, 2022 by Vice President Sara Duterte, concurrent DepEd secretary.
“This policy promotes the safety and protection of learners and personnel from unnecessary physical dangers that they may be exposed to during natural disasters and calamities. This is to ensure that their constitutional rights to life, health, safety, and property are always protected,” read part of the order.
It added: “To minimize the health and safety risks brought about by disaster and other natural calamities, the Department recognizes that the suspension of classes and work during emergencies remains necessary for upholding the physical and mental well-being of learners and school personnel.”
Escullar said schools may opt to make their method or choose modalities of learning to ensure that the child’s studies continue despite not being in school due to calamities.
Here are the guidelines for heavy rainfall:
* In-person, online classes and work from Kindergarten to Grade 12 and the Alternative Learning System (ALS) are automatically canceled in schools situated in local government units (LGUs) issued with orange and red rainfall warnings by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
* If the warning is issued at a time when classes have already begun, the school will immediately suspend classes and work and send everyone home if it is safe to do so. However, schools are obligated to keep students and personnel safe in school if traveling has become unsafe.
* LCEs will decide on the cancellation or suspension of classes if PAGASA issues a yellow rainfall warning in their LGU or in cases where there are torrential rains in specific or all areas of the LGU but PAGASA does not issue an alert.
Here are the guidelines for flooding:
* In-person, online classes and work from Kindergarten to Grade 12 and ALS are automatically canceled in schools in specific areas issued with a flood warning by the PAGASA.
* If the flood warning is issued at a time when classes have already begun, the school will immediately suspend the classes and work and send everyone home, if it is safe to do so. However, schools are obligated to keep students and personnel safe in school if traveling has become unsafe.
* LCEs will decide on the cancellation or suspension of classes in cases where there is flooding in specific or all areas of the LGU but they are not issued with a flood warning by PAGASA, or in cases where there are torrential rains in specific or all areas of the LGU but they are not issued with an alert by PAGASA./PN
