Sara Duterte order cancels classes in areas under storm signals; rainfall, flood warnings

Classes in all levels and work in public schools are now automatically suspended in areas where PAGASA raised public storm signals, rainfall and flood warnings, according to a Department of Education order released on Thursday.

DepEd Order (DO) 37, signed by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte, state that during typhoons, classes are suspended in areas issued with Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS) 1, 2 ,3, 4, or 5 by PAGASA.

Likewise, class suspension is called for in schools located in areas issued with a Yellow, Orange, or Red Rainfall Warning, or Flood Warning by PAGASA.

If the TCWS, Rainfall Warning, or Flood Warning was issued when classes have already begun, DepEd mandates that schools shall immediately suspend classes and work, and send everyone home, if it is safe to do so.

Schools are however obligated to keep the students and personnel inside if traveling becomes unsafe for them.

Local chief executives will also decide on the suspension of classes in cases where there are strong winds, torrential rains, or floods in specific or all areas of the LGU, but are not covered by the PAGASA warning.

In the case of private schools, community learning centers, state and local universities and colleges (SUCs/LUCs), DepEd said they have the option whether or not to abide by the provisions of the said DO.

In cases of earthquakes, the DO said that classes in all levels were automatically canceled in areas where the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) declared a quake with Phivolcs Earthquake Intensity Scale (PHEIS) V or above.

Local chief executives have the liberty to cancel classes in cases where the PEIS is IV and below.

School principals can also cancel classes at any PEIS if in their assessment, their school buildings and other structures are seen to be in danger of collapsing or are found to have major damage.

DepEd said that in case of class suspension due to these events, distance learning or make up classes will be implemented to ensure that learning competencies and objectives are still met.

Students who also miss learning activities due to such events shall also be accorded due consideration in the completion of their learning tasks, it added.

Evacuation centers

Based on the same DO, schools will no longer be used as quarantine and/or isolation facilities or vaccination centers, amid the COVID-19.

DepEd also said that the memorandums allowing schools as quarantine, isolation, and vaccination centers are now lifted.

However, in cases of other disasters, schools may be used as an immediate evacuation site that should not last for more than 15 days.

LGUs are likewise mandated not to use schools as long-term shelters for evacuees. —NB, GMA News