Mayor Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez is not ordering the suspension of face-to-face classes in Victorias City.
“We will not be suspending them at this time. This decision comes after careful consideration of geographical layout, autonomy of school heads, and general advisory on our local conditions,” he said on Sunday, March 31.
“Our geographical terrain ranges from mountains to coastlines, and our schools experience weather conditions differently,” he added.
Benitez said he leaves it to school heads to make informed decisions about the best mode of learning for their students whether it is in-person or through alternative delivery modes.
“This approach is aligned with the guidelines of DepEd Order No. 037 of 2022 which empowers school heads to adapt learning modes based on local context,” he said.
“The province of Negros Occidental was not included in the list of PAGASA for areas with high heat indices. We’ll have to rely on our localized knowledge and expertise to guide our decisions and we do understand the importance of balancing educational needs with health considerations,” Benitez said.
Benitez said he cares about the students and teachers and prioritizes their education as well as their health and believes they should be learning with the right environment.
“Should there be a shift of implementation to alternative delivery mode of any school head, we encourage the students and parents to ensure that the learning objectives continue to be met,” he added.
“It is in these challenging times where we see the strength of our collective resilience and adaptability,” Benitez said.*