Palace: Suspending classes still LGU’s job
The heads of local government units (LGUs) will remain in charge of declaring the suspension of classes for now while Malacañang studies a proposal to turn the task over to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“As of now, the President still has no official answer to the suggestion of [Interior] Secretary Jonvic Remulla. This will be studied first. If it shows that this will benefit many, then the President will give his possible response,” Palace press officer Claire Castro said in a briefing on Thursday.
“As of the moment, the current systems—where local government unit heads are the ones who declare class suspensions—will stay in place,” she added.
Malacañang acknowledged that some local chief executives, particularly governors and mayors, are late in declaring class suspensions during inclement weather, citing the delay in the forwarding of information that will serve as their basis.
“But we are appealing to the heads of LGUs if they can expedite giving orders to suspend classes. Class suspensions should be declared ahead of time, so that students and their parents will not be stranded in flooded streets or stuck in heavy traffic while on their way home,” Castro said.
According to Malacañang, it will sit down with local chief executives and the Department of Education to discuss ways to speed up the process for suspending classes on top of drafting guidelines for conducting makeup online classes to reduce learning disruption among students.
Most LGUs in Metro Manila and several provinces called off classes on Thursday due to heavy rains caused by a low pressure area and the “habagat” (southwest monsoon).
Government action
Castro also said the President has directed government agencies to ramp up their efforts to mitigate the effects of the rainy season, including the clearing of drainage systems to ease flooding, especially in Metro Manila.
According to her, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has started cleaning 23 priority esteros while the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has been reminded to make sure local disaster offices are prepared to serve as first responders in calamities.
Castro, however, noted that while the government can be counted on to take action, the public must do its part by not littering.
“Sometimes, we ourselves are the reason why flooding happens more quickly in our areas. Hopefully, we can all help one another,” she said.
Remulla earlier asked the President to give him the authority to declare class suspensions during tropical cyclones, noting that this would result in more timely announcements.
According to him, his firsthand experience in local governance as a longtime Cavite governor has made him an effective decision-maker during calamities.
Centralized authority
Remulla said that centralizing the authority to suspend classes under the DILG would enable more accurate and timely coordination with LGUs, especially in times of floods, typhoons and other natural disasters.
“Coordinating with LGUs will be easier if the declaration of class suspensions will come from us,” he added.
Remulla recalled that he gained quite a following on social media in 2015 for his humorous way of announcing class suspensions.
“Should I announce the suspension of classes in all levels for July 10 now? Or do I wait till all of you get your ‘baon’ and take a bath? Please let me know,” he wrote in a July 9, 2015 post. At the time, there was widespread flooding in Luzon, including Metro Manila and nearby provinces due to Typhoon “Egay” (international name: Linfa).
Though Remulla had announced late the suspension of classes on July 9 that year, he made up for it by announcing that same day that classes were also suspended on July 10. For the rest of his term, he was always among the first among LGU heads to declare class suspensions.
Aside from LGU heads, the President or the executive secretary can also suspend classes nationwide or in specific areas during calamities.
Classes are automatically suspended depending on the tropical cyclone warning signal or heavy rainfall warning raised in the locality by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.
School heads are also given the discretion to call off classes.
