THE Department of Education (DepEd) yesterday said 7,734 schools nationwide have suspended face-to-face classes and shifted to alternative distance learning mode (ADM) due to extreme heat being experienced across country.
There are 47,678 schools nationwide.
The DepEd reported last April 25 that 7,188 classes have shifted to online classes to protect students from getting sick due to the hot temperatures. Most of the suspensions started last month, when heat indexes started to hover between the 42 to 46 degrees danger level.
Of the 7, 734 schools, Region 6 (Western Visayas) registered the highest number with 1,613; followed by Region 3 (Central Luzon) with 1,254; and Bicol Region with 1,181.
Meanwhile, 666 schools in Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), 462 in Region IV-B (Mimaropa), 414 in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley), and 407 in Region 7 (Central Visayas) are also implementing ADM.
In Region 12 (Soocksargen), 366 schools have also suspended face-to-face classes, as well as 319 in Region 1 (Ilocos Region), 268 in Calabarzon, 259 in the Cordillera Administrative Region, and 252 in the National Capital Region.
The DepEd said 136 schools in Region 8 (Eastern Visayas), 108 in Region 10 (Northern Mindanao), 28 in Region 11 (Davao Region), and one in Caraga have also cancelled their in-person classes.
The DepEd Central Office has said that school heads have the authority to suspend classes due to El Niño-induced extreme heat.
NO RELIEF
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) yesterday said Pili town in Camarines Sur will sizzle today with a dangerous heat index of 48 degrees.
It will also be extremely hot in Dagupan City in Pangasinan and Tacloban City in Leyte with a 46 degrees heat index.
The weather bureau said 37 other areas will likewise experience hot temperatures, with
Bacnotan town in La Union, Puerto Princesa City and Aborlan town in Puerto Princesa City, Iloilo City and Dumangas town in Iloilo, and Roxas City in Capiz forecast to have a heat index of 45 degrees.
A heat index between 42 to 44 degrees will be felt in Quezon City and Pasay City in Metro Manila, Sinait town in Ilocos Sur, Laoag City in Ilocos Norte, Batac town in La Union, Tuguegarao City and Appari town in Cagayan, Echague town in Isabela, Iba town in Zambales, Clark in Pampanga, Munoz town in Nueva Ecija, Baler and Casiguran towns in Aurora, Olongapo City in Zambales, Sangley Point in Cavite, Tanauan town in Batangas, Alabat town in Quezon, Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro, Coron town in Palawan, San Jose town in Occidental Mindoro, Daet town in Camarines Norte, Legazpi City in Albay, Virac town in Catanduanes, and Masbate City in Masbate,
High heat indexes are also forecast in Mambusao town in Capiz, La Carlota City in Negros Occidental, Catarman town in Northern Samar, Catbalogan City in Samar, Guian town in Eastern Samar, Maasin City in Southern Leyte, and Zamboanga City in Zamboanga del Sur.
PAGASA has classified a heat index ranging from 42 to 51 degrees as dangerous, where residents are likely to experience heat cramps and heat exhaustion and heat stroke is possible.
SCHOOL CALENDAR
Teachers groups such as the Alliance of Concerned Teachers and the Teachers Dignity Coalition have urged the DepEd to return to the original June to March school calendar so students do not have to go to schools during the summer months of April and May when temperatures hit high levels.
In response, the DepEd has recommended to the President the closing of the coming 2024-25 school year in March next year so it could open the 2025-26 academic year in June 2025.
Last February 19, the DepEd issued an order adjusting the end of the current school year from June 15 to May 31, 2024. The same order also set the opening and closing dates for school year 2024-25 at July 29, 2024 and May 16, 2025, respectively.
Rep. Roman Romulo, chairperson of the House Committee on Basic Education, yesterday told the “Bagong Pilipinas “ media forum that he supports the DepEd plan to end the 2024-25 school calendar earlier than originally set.
At the same time, he urged the agency to also prepare for the challenges brought about by the rainy season.
“Sa amin sa House po sang-ayon na maibalik na sa ngayon kasi nakikita po natin talagang apektado ang continuity of learning (We, in the House, are in favor of returning to the old calendar year now because we see how the continuity of learning is affected [by the extreme heat]),” Romulo said.
He cited the sporadic cancellations of face-to-face classes in favor of on-line learning because of the scorching dry season heat.
“Alam natin ‘di maganda yun paputol-putol ang klase at equally, di rin maganda na hindi face-to-face. Wala talagang substitute ang face-to-face, ‘yan talaga ang pinaka-effective, kailangam minimal lang ang paggamit ng online at modules. Tumintindi na po talaga ang init, maganda po talaga na maibalik na ang old academic calendar (We know that interrupted classes is not good and equally, it’s the same when it’s not face-to-face. There’s really no substitute for face-to-face classes, that’s really the most effective and the use of online classes and modules should be minimal. The heat is really getting worse. It’s best that we return to the old academic calendar),” Romulo said.
The administration lawmaker said the Dep Ed should also coordinate with the appropriate departments and agencies to look into the possibility of installing air-conditioning units in some of its classrooms using alternative sources of energy such as harnessed solar power, because electric fans can longer help students because of the high temperatures recorded daily.
“Siguro panahon na, maaraw naman sa Pilipinas, (na maglagay ng) mga solar panels kasi ‘yung electric fan po, sa ibang lugar talaga naglolokohan na lang ‘pag sinabi natin sapat ng yung electric fan kasi di rin po talaga kaya. Aircon po talaga ang kailangan (Maybe it’s time, since its so sunny in the Philippines, to install solar panels because electric fans, in some areas, we’re really just fooling each other when we say it’s enough because it’s not and aircon is really what we need),” Romulo said.
However, once the school year reverts to the old June to March calendar, Romulo said the DepEd should also be ready for the rainy season by coordinating with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to protect public schools from floods.
“Kailangan po talaga mapaghandaan alin mang calendar year natin dahil may challenges (We really have to prepare because there are challenges whichever calendar year we adopt),” he said.
TOBIAS FORNIER TOWN
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) yesterday reminded local government officials to comply with set procedures for the allotment and release of family food packs (FFPs) and other non-food relief items for communities affected by calamities and disasters.
Social Welfare Assistant Secretary and spokeswoman Irene Dumlao, during the DSWD Thursday Media Forum, made the call following a squabble between Tobias Fornier town Mayor Ernesto Tajanlangit III and Vice Mayor Jose Maria Fournier last April 29 over the release and distribution of the department’s family food packs to communities affected by the El Niño in their town.
Dumlao said local government officials are not allowed to withdraw on their own and without the approval of the DSWD the prepositioned food packs stored in DSWD warehouses and warehouses lent to the agency by local government units (LGUs).
She said the LGU warehouses are covered by a relief pre-positioning agreement between the DSWD and the local government which should be followed.
A formal request, along with the list of beneficiaries, should also be submitted to the DSWD.
Dumlao said the vice mayor requested the release of the food packs for his constituents who were affected by the El Niño through Antique Gov. Rhodora Cadiao who reportedly allowed the release of 500 family food packs as head of the Antique Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Council.
However, she said the request was not approved by the DSWD.
Reports said around 1,000 food packs were withdrawn from the warehouse and the trucks that were carrying the items were blocked by Tajanlangit, who claimed that the process of distribution was not followed.
Each food pack contains food items such as canned goods, noodles, coffee, biscuits and rice that are good for a family of five and last for two days.
In a video, Tajanlangit and Fornier were seen physically fighting with each other.
The two officials had initially fought over the truck keys and later exchanged blows after Fornier, in an attempt to close the truck door, hit the head of Tajanlangit who answered back with a punch.
Dumlao said the DSWD through their regional field office intervened and oversaw the distribution of the 1,000 food packs in Tobias Fornier and the filing of appropriate documentations.
To date, the DSWD has already distributed P97.275 million worth of family food packs and non-food relief items to 695,149 families or 2.97 million individuals from 3,905 barangays in regions I (Ilocos), II (Cagayan Valley), III (Central Luzon), IV-B (Mimaropa), V (Bicol), VI (Western Visayas), VII (Central Visayas), VIII (Eastern Visayas), IX (Zamboanga Peninsula), XI (Davao), XII (Soccsksargen), Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) who are affected by the El Niño. — With Victor Reyes, Wendell Vigilia and Jocelyn Montemayor
