COCOPEA legal counsel seeks clarification on EO on class suspension, resumption

MANILA — Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines (COCOPEA) Legal Counsel Joseph Estrada said Executive Order 130, which was issued to address class suspensions and resumption, should be clarified.

Estrada says among the matters that need to be explained is “coordination” and “concurrence” with local chief executives (LCE).

The order states educational institutions may declare granular suspension upon determination of a threat to learners’ safety, health, and welfare, but in coordination with the concerned LCE.

“Kaya lang kasi ang nakalagay dun sa EO subject to concurrence of the local chief executive… When we say concurrence, does it mean approval? Kasi then that becomes a problem kasi isu-submit mo pa ‘yan for approval ng local chief executive,” Estrada told ABS-CBN News.

Estrada added that students’ learning continuity should be protected.

“Hindi naman puwedeng lagi ka nang nagsu-suspend at sacrificing naman ‘yung learning ng mga estudyante. So sa mga areas or sa mga level ng schools na tingin natin ay hindi naman sila ganoon ka-affected, halimbawa ng flooding at mayroon naman silang mga enough contingency plans and resources, they should be able to decide on their own,” Estrada said.

But Valentin Sagun Jr., a teacher from Mandaluyong Addition Hills Elementary School, said he is not worried about running short of instructional days if such suspensions are declared.

“Hindi naman po. Kayang kaya ‘yan na maituro pa rin ‘yung mga competencies na dapat matutuhan ng mga bata,” Sagun told ABS-CBN News.

“Dapat hindi natin sinasakripisyo ‘yung kaligtasan ng mga bata, ‘yung guro para lamang makumpleto ‘yung instructional days ng mga bata po,” Sagun said.

As for parent Babyrose Giray, letting schools decide on suspensions themselves would help students.

“Kung hihintayin pa po namin si mayora na mag-suspend lalo kung tag-init talaga, tag-ulan, based sa ano kasi experience namin, lalo binabaha po dito, ‘pag papasok po sa school, siyempre mahihirapan ‘yung bata… Natatagalan po lalo kakahintay. Siyempre po ‘pag malakas ang ulan, tapos late na masasabi na suspend na pala ‘yung klase kung kailan nasa school na po ‘yung mga bata,” Giray said.

For state colleges and universities, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson Shirley Agrupis said they were already told to establish a plan for sustainability in learning regardless of calamities.

“Since COVID-19, CHED already mandate the state university and colleges through their president to come up with their business and academic sustainability plan. So what this covers, this will ensure sustainability in the teaching-learning ecosystem in the university regardless of the calamities, be it unseen enemies, be it force majeure or anything else.” Agrupis said.

Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara said that while safety is non-negotiable, they can also no longer rely on “sweeping, blanket suspensions” when a campus is safe and ready to teach.

“By authorizing granular resumptions alongside localized suspensions, President Marcos is giving our school heads and local executives the legal framework to reopen cleared campuses safely without waiting for broader declarations,” Angara said.