ILOILO City – A total of 2,160 public and private schools in Western Visayas suspended classes yesterday due to inclement weather brought by a low pressure area (LPA).
Local chief executives (LCEs) have the discretion to suspend classes, according to Hernani Escullar Jr., regional information officer of the Department of Education (DepEd).
Department Order No. 037, Series of 2022 stated that “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 local government unit (LGU) but is not issued a tropical cyclone warning signal by PAGASA
Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.”
Here are the schools division offices (SDOs) that suspended classes as of 2 p.m. yesterday and their corresponding numbers of schools, based on Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6 data:
* Iloilo – 21 municipalities or 522 schools
* Sagay City – 76 schools
* Escalante City – 43 schools
* La Carlota City – 29 schools
* Cadiz City – 69 schools
* Bago City – 47 schools
* Victorias City – 28 schools
* Negros Occidental – 18 municipalities or 530 schools
* Capiz – 10 municipalities or 279 schools
* Bacolod City – 70 schools
* Sipalay City – 49 schools
* San Carlos City – 65 schools
* Passi City – 44 schools
* Roxas City – 50 schools
* Antique – two towns or 34 schools
* Silay City – 39 schools
* Himamalyan City – 54 schools
* Kabankalan City – 91 schools
“It was the LCEs who suspended classes, and we in DepEd abide by the pronouncements of our LCEs; they are the ones in authority who ensure the safety of everyone, especially our learners,” Escullar told Panay News yesterday.
He explained that LCEs are more knowledgeable about the situation in their respective areas.
Under Department Order No. 037, school heads and teachers are to find appropriate means to keep up with the classes.
As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the LPA last traced 575 kilometers east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte remained less likely to develop into a tropical cyclone in the next 24 hours, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.
However, the weather bureau said this LPA and the shear line will cause moderate to heavy, with at times intense rains over Eastern and Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur. (With a report from the Philippine News AgencyPNA)/PN
