Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Monday, April 11, that he will adhere to the Department of Education guidelines for class suspensions and shifting to alternative delivery modes (ADM) due to extreme heat and calamities.
Localized assessments will ensure timely response and the welfare of learners and instructors, the mayor said in a Facebook post.
In light of the high heat index experienced in different parts of the country, DepEd reiterates the provisions of Department Order 037 issued in 2022, which provides guidelines on the cancellation or suspension of classes and work in schools in the event of natural disasters, power outages/power interruptions, and other calamities, its official statement dated April 4 said.
DepEd has given the school heads the authority and discretion to suspend the conduct of in-person classes and shift to ADM in cases of extreme heat and other calamities that may compromise the health and safety of learners, teachers, and non-teaching personnel, it said.
Given that DepEd supervises more than 47,000 schools nationwide, it is in the best interest of the learning community to have localized assessments for timely response and interventions to ensure the welfare of learners and personnel, it added.*