Duterte signs law allowing President to set class opening date during state of calamity or emergency

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a bill allowing the chief executive to set at any date the opening of classes in case of a state of calamity or emergency.

Signed by Duterte on July 17, the new law (Republic Act 11480) empowers the President, upon recommendation of the Secretary of Education, to set at any date the opening of classes in the entire Philippines or in selected affected areas in times of state of calamity or emergency.

RA 11480 amended Republic Act 7797, which set the opening of classes as early as the first Monday of June but not later than the last day of August.

The measure covers all basic education schools, including foreign or international schools in the Philippines. It also allows the conduct of Saturday classes for elementary and secondary levels. 

The Department of Education (DepEd) earlier announced that the upcoming school year will start on August 24.

Face-to-face classes would not be held until a COVID-19 vaccine is available as the department emphasized the use of online and modular learning as well as radio and television networks to ensure delivery of lessons.

Last week, Duterte asked the DepEd and Commission on Higher Education to submit their position papers on the possibility of face-to-face classes in areas considered as low risk in the spread of COVID-19. — RSJ, GMA News