ILOILO – Thirty local government units (LGUs) in the province suspended in-person classes yesterday, May 31, due to inclement weather brought by the southwest monsoon.
These were San Joaquin, Guimbal, Miag-ao, Oton, Tigbauan, Leganes, New Lucena, Pavia, San Miguel, Leon, Alimodian, Santa Barbara, Zarraga, Badiangan, Bingawan, Lambunao, Cabatuan, Janiuay, Maasin, Pototan, Calinog, Mina, Dueñas, Banate, Dumangas, Barotac Nuevo, Balasan, Carles, San Dionisio, and San Rafael.
Most of these localities experienced light to moderate rains, but there were others, especially in northern Iloilo, that had heavy rainfall since Tuesday night, said Dr. Jerry Bionat, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).
“Madamo sang mga banwa ang nag-suspend sang klase tungod sang pag-ulan, light to moderate, may ara man nga heavy rainfall,” said Bionat.
Aside from class suspension, the PDRRMO has not received reports on suspension of work among LGUs.
He added there were no reports of flooding.
The PDRRMO head clarified that the rains were brought by the southwest monsoon and not by Typhoon “Betty”.
“Sa subong nga binulan monsoon season, buot hambalon tig-ulolan. Ang hangin nga nagahuyop amo ang habagat kag tungod nga warm air ang dala sini nga hangin, damo nga gal-om sina ang maporma,” he further explained.
The monsoon season may last until September or October.
Meanwhile, Hernani Escullar Jr., information officer of the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6, said all schools that suspended in-person classes yesterday shifted to alternative modes of learning in compliance with 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” issued on Sept. 1, 2022 by Vice President Sara Duterte, concurrent DepEd secretary.
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 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 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.
* Local chief executives will decide on the cancellation or suspension of classes if their LGU is issued a yellow rainfall warning by PAGASA or in cases where there are torrential rains in specific or all areas of the LGU but it is not issued an alert by PAGASA.
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.
* Local chief executives will decide on the cancellation or suspension of classes in cases where there is flooding in specific or all areas of the LGU but are not issued 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 an alert by PAGASA./PN
