ILOILO City – The first day of new school year 2023-2024 did not go well in Western Visayas. Torrential monsoon rains and flooding shut down 3,848 of the region’s 4,048 public elementary and high schools.
The safety of learners was paramount, stressed the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6 as it welcomed the decision of various local government units (LGUs) yesterday to suspend classes.
The heavy rains in the region were brought by the southwest monsoon enhanced by Typhoon “Goring” which was actually far away in the extreme Northern Luzon.
The southwest monsoon, locally known as habagat, is a normal occurrence in the Philippines. Between the months of June to October, warm and moist winds travel towards the western coasts of the country. Warmer air means the air can hold more water. This increase in water capacity can then bring in more rain. As such, during the peak habagat season in the months of July, August and September, high rainfall is expected.
DepEd-6 is deferring to LGUs as to when it would be safe to resume classes in their respective jurisdictions.
“Dapat ang aton mga kabataan safe nga makabalik sa classrooms. We don’t want to put their lives at risk that is why we follow the guidance of our LGUs,” said DepEd-6 information officer Hernani Escullar Jr.
LGUs are in the best position to know the situation on the ground thus DepEd-6 will be heeding their advisories on the resumption of classes, Escullar told Panay News.
“Goring” is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) either today (Wednesday) or tomorrow.
On the same day, however, Tropical Storm “Haikui” is expected to enter PAR and will be given the local name “Hanna”.
This tropical cyclone is unlikely to directly affect the country but will enhance the southwest monsoon, causing occasional or monsoon rains over the western portion of the Visayas and Luzon throughout this week, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Here is the area breakdown of the 3,848 schools that suspended classes yesterday as reported by various Schools Division Office (SDOs) to DepEd-6:
* Aklan – 370 schools
* Antique – 535 schools
* Bacolod City – 70 schools
* Bago City – 47 schools
* Cadiz City – 69 schools
* Capiz – 446 schools
* Escalante City – 41 schools
* Guimaras – 114 schools
* Himamaylan City – 54 schools
* Iloilo – 1,128 schools
* Iloilo City – 66 schools
* Kabankalan City – 91 schools
* La Carlota City – 30 schools
* Negros Occidental – 552 schools
* Passi City – 76 schools
* Sagay City – 76 schools
* Silay City -39 schools
* Sipalay City – 49 schools
* Victorias City – 27 schools
DepEd Order No. 037, Series of 2022 issued on September 2022 set 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.
For Typhoon
* In-person, online classes and work from Kindergarten to Grade 12 and Alternative Learning System (ALS) are automatically cancelled in schools situated in LGUs issued with Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS) 1, 2, 3,4 or 5 by the PAGASA.
* If the TCWS is issued at a time when classes have already begun, the school shall immediately suspend the classes and work and send everyone home, if it is safe to do so. However, schools are obligated to keep the students and personnel safely in school if travelling has become unsafe.
* Local Chief Executives shall decide on the cancellation or suspension of classes in cases where there are strong winds in specific or all areas of the LGU but is not issued a TCWS.
For Heavy Rainfall
* In-person, online classes and work from Kindergarten to Grade 12 and ALS are automatically cancelled in schools situated in LGUs issued with Orange and Red Rainfall Warning by the PAGASA.
* If the Warning is issued at a time when classes have already begun, the school shall immediately suspend the classes and work and send everyone home, if it is safe to do so. However, schools are obligated to keep the students and personnel safely in school if travelling has become unsafe.
* Local Chief Executives shall 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 is not issued an Alert by PAGASA.
For Flood
* In-person, online classes and work from Kindergarten to Grade 12 and ALS are automatically cancelled 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 shall immediately suspend the classes and work and send everyone home, if it is safe to do so. However, schools are obligated to keep the students and personnel safely in school if travelling has become unsafe.
* Local Chief Executives shall decide on the cancellation or suspension of classes in cases where there is flooding in specific or all areas of the LGU but is not issued a Flood Warning by PAGASA./PN
