BY IME SORNITO
ILOILO City – Due to hot weather conditions brought by the El Niño phenomenon and the onset of the hot and dry season, 840 schools accommodating 494,651 learners in Western Visayas have suspended face-to-face classes from Monday, April 1 until Tuesday, April 2.
According to Hernani Escullar Jr., information officer of the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6, the decision to suspend face-to-face classes was made by either the local government units (LGUs) or the school heads/principals.
The Schools Division Offices (SDOs) that suspended face-to-face classes are as follows:
* Iloilo City – 66 schools or 78,863 learners (April 1 and 2)
* Bacolod City – 70 schools or 117,540 learners (April 1 and 2)
* Roxas City – 50 schools or 32,169 learners (April 1)
* Kabankalan City – 91 schools or 51,990 learners (April 1)
* Silay City – 39 schools or 29,503 learners (April 1 and 2)
* Guimaras – 96 schools or 37, 615 learners (April 1)
* Himamaylan City – 38 schools or 31,114 learners (April 1 and 2)
* Iloilo (Dumangas) – 31 schools or 14,717 learners (April 1)
* Bago City – 47 schools or 37,444 learners (April 1 and 2)
* Negros Occidental – 284 schools or 63, 526 learners (April 1 and 2)
“We have automatically shifted to alternative delivery modes of teaching to ensure learning continuity,” Escullar told Panay News.
Escullar cited the executive order issued by Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas on Sunday, March 31, suspending face-to-face classes from pre-school to senior high school, both in public and private schools.
Since most schools are using modules to teach lessons, teachers have opted to implement Modular Distance Learning, said Escullar. However, those who prefer online learning may conduct online classes.
Yesterday, the forecasted heat index by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in some parts of the region reached “extreme heat”, such as: Roxas City, Capiz – 42 degrees Celsius; Mambusao, Capiz – 40 degrees Celsius; Iloilo City – 41 degrees Celsius; Dumangas, Iloilo – 41 degrees Celsius; and La Carlota, Negros Occidental – 41 degrees Celsius.
So far, Escullar said, DepEd-6 has not received reports of learners or school personnel experiencing debilitating discomfort, but schools are well-prepared for such eventualities.
“We learned lessons from last year and gained insights into how we need to address the situation. We don’t want to compromise the health of our learners,” Escullar said.
He acknowledged that the April 1-2 National Achievement Test (NAT) for Grade 6 may be affected. In Iloilo City, this has been moved to April 3.
In an interview with Aksyon Radyo Iloilo, Charlie Depra of PAGASA Iloilo said temperatures may continue to rise in the coming days and weeks.
“We have just entered our hot and dry season, and the El Niño phenomenon is ongoing. Warm wind or easterlies from the Pacific Ocean is also coming in,” Depra said.
The highest heat index recorded by PAGASA in Iloilo City was 44 degrees Celsius at 2 p.m. on March 28.
Depra warned that the heat index in some parts of the country may reach 52 degrees Celsius or even higher./PN
