BY IME SORNITO & JEN BAYLON
ILOILO City – At least 200 public schools with around 199,033 learners in Negros Occidental have suspended in-person classes and shifted to alternative learning delivery modes.
Three local government units (LGUs) halted face-to-face classes due to the forecasted high heat index in their respective localities, according to the Department of Education (DepEd) Regional Office 6’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM).
These LGUs include the province’s capital, Bacolod City, which has 70 schools with 117,540 learners; Kabankalan City which has 91 schools with 51,990 learners; and Silay City which has 39 schools with 29,503 learners.
Ian Arnaez, spokesperson for DepEd-Negros Occidental, emphasized that the school head has the authority to choose the mode of learning to be followed.
He confirmed reports of some students experiencing nosebleeds and fainting due to the heat but clarified that the incidents were not alarming as they were isolated cases.
Mayor Alfredo Benitez of Bacolod City announced the suspension of face-to-face classes on March 11 and 12 in response to the high heat index forecast from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) of up to 41 degrees Celsius on March 11 and up to 40 degrees Celsius on March 12.
The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Region 6, under the direction of Raul Fernandez, has identified Negros Occidental as one of the areas enduring a drought since February.
Drought conditions, characterized by more than a 60 percent reduction in rainfall for three consecutive months, contrast with a dry spell, which sees a 21 to 60 percent decrease.
DepEd-6 has not monitored class suspensions in other provinces such as Iloilo, Guimaras, Antique, Capiz, and Aklan. These provinces are under a dry spell.
Hernani Escullar Jr., DepEd-6 information officer, said the 200 public schools shifted to alternative learning delivery modes so as not to disrupt the learning of students.
Escullar explained that the decision to suspend classes due to the high heat index is dependent on the concerned LGUs.
“Ang mga kabataan, especially sa toddlers and kindergarten to grade 3, are more susceptible sa sini nga weather conditions, and that is why kon may guidelines ang LGUs, kita sa DepEd nagasunod kita kay we know ang gusto lamang nila ang ikaayo man sang aton mga kabataan,” Escullar said.
He noted that the affected schools must coordinate with the concerned Schools Division Office (SDO) to determine the best strategies to ensure that students can catch up on their lessons even if they are not physically present in the classrooms.
Escullar said Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio has not yet released any guidelines regarding the measures to be implemented once classes are suspended in schools due to the hot weather, so it depends on the SDOs for now.
“Kita sa DepEd, wala na kita naga-suspend sang in-person classes. Rather, we automatically shift to alternative learning delivery modes sa aton sini nga mga kabataan agud sini may ara kita sang learning continuity during this extreme situation. So, ang schools naga-coordinate sa Division agud ma-provide-an sang necessary nga learning materials ang aton kabataan,” Escullar added.
He also explained that DepEd-6 cannot issue a region-wide declaration of suspension of classes since there are 4,057 public schools in Western Visayas and each locality has varying weather conditions and situations.
In line with this, Escullar assured that the DRRM is constantly coordinating with schools and SDOs to ensure that the situation of learners is monitored.
Escullar assured that DepEd is ready to implement a response action in case some learners fall sick since it was experienced last year.
He added that even the schools have prepared for the impact of El Niño during the Brigada Eskwela at the opening of the school year 2023-2024, with various non-government organizations and private individuals and groups donating electric fans and ceiling fans for the classrooms.
Earlier, Pagasa cautioned the public against the high heat index in Western Visayas throughout the week, particularly after its Iloilo station recorded temperatures in the extreme caution category.
Under the extreme caution category, a person could experience serious health issues or health problems, from discomfort to heat stroke, heat cramps, and heat exhaustion.
“Gina-expect na namon, pasulod na ta sa aton ginatawag nga hot and dry season or local term summer nga March, April, and May, nga usually nagakuha kami heat index nga wala naganubo sa 40 tubtob 44 degree Celcius,” Rubin said./PN
