Schools must notify LGUs of suspensions due to Super El Niño, says DepEd chief
Barangay watchmen assist pupils of Caniogan Elementary School in Pasig City as they navigate the streets at the end of their classes for the day. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/FileMANILA — Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara said on Wednesday that schools should notify local government units (LGUs) of suspensions or a shift to hybrid or home-based schedules due to extreme heat levels.
This follows the issuance of DepEd Memorandum No. 64, s. 2026, in response to the expected impact of Super El Niño. The memorandum states that school heads may suspend classes depending on the heat index.
“Just notify the LGU. Part ‘yun. Required ‘yun. Kasi part of coordination ‘yun. Para hindi magulat si mayor o si governor na bakit nag-uuwian na ‘yung mga bata,” Angara told the media.
However, Lakan Dula High School School Parent-Teacher Association (SPTA) President Raquel Garcia expressed concern that some households might struggle with the setup.
“Hindi po lahat may kakayahang makapag-ano sa internet. Wala pong internet po ‘yung iba… So ‘yung iba wala rin pong gadget. Hindi po lahat ng mga magulang at mga bata may kakayahang magkaroon ng internet. ‘Yung iba po nakiki-internet… Tingin ko po medyo mahihirapan po talaga kami sa mga ganyang pangyayari,” Garcia said.
Lakandula High School Principal Raffy Caballes said that they are preparing a learning and service continuity plan for Super El Niño.
According to Caballes, the school also surveyed students on the availability of gadgets in the event that classes shift to home-based learning.
“Para sa Super El Niño po, mayroon na po tayong learning and service continuity plan na inihahanda. Batay po ‘to sa datos ng school, ano po ang context ng mga mag-aaral natin at ano po ang context ng mga guro natin, saan sila nanggagaling,” Caballes said.
“May survey kami sa mga bata. Sa survey po, napag-alaman kung ilan ang mga bata na mayroong laptop, gadget sa bahay. May kasamang adult na puwedeng tumulong sa kanila in case po magkaroon talaga ng alternative delivery mode,” Caballes added.
Angara said they are looking at availability, conservation, and recycling of water in line with the expected impact of Super El Niño.
“‘Yung water ang talaga tinitingnan ho natin, ‘yung availability of water, tapos ‘yung pag-recycle ng tubig, importante. Tapos ‘yung pag-conserve, ‘yung water conservation. Although ngayon, maganda ang supply ng tubig, baka ‘pag dumating na ‘yung mas mainit na panahon, ‘yung El Niño, maubusan na tayo,” Angara said.