MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan, July 12 (PNA) — Provincial officials here are asking the Department of Education (DepEd) to have a clear-cut and uniformed policy on the suspension of classes during the rainy season, particularly in times when there are no storm signals but there are occurrence of heavy rains.
Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado said that during stormy weather, there is a uniform guidelines on the automatic suspension of classes based on storm signals but there are also instances when the DepEd leaves the decision to local executives.
He cited as example what happened during the recent rains and floods spawned by the southwest monsoon and typhoon “Falcon” where there were no storm signals issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
He said many parents have noticed that the DepEd seems to be abdicating the decision to local executives who, in turn, are suspending classes based only on weather forecasts.
During the recent rainy days, local executives suspended classes in all levels in almost all towns and cities in Bulacan, even those not affected by flooding.
“There are times when a local executive suspends classes in a certain city or municipality, but sometimes not all areas are in eminent danger of flooding. There must be a basis before suspending classes and DepEd should formulate guidelines on this,” Alvarado said.
Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo, chairman of the House Committee on Technical and Higher Education, agreed on the suggestion of Governor Alvarado on having a uniformed and clear-cut policy in the suspension of classes.
He said that education officials, local executives and concerned agencies should sit down together and come up with a clear policy in the suspension of classes in order not to jeopardize the studying hours of students.
“The Department of Education should make a study on this in coordination with local executives. It is important to have a flexible policy in suspending classes,” Romulo said. (PNA)