Policy on class suspension drafted

CEBU, Philippines - To avoid confusion, a unified set of guidelines will be agreed upon between the Cebu City government and schools here in declaring a suspension of classes during emergency situations such as calamities.

Last Friday, the city met with representatives from the University of San Jose-Recoletos College of Law and the University of the Philippines Cebu in a “clarificatory hearing” so the schools could explain why they did not heed the advice of Mayor Michael Rama to suspend classes during typhoon Ruby.

“Nagsabot lang mi nga to avoid further confusion ba in the future nga we will set guidelines and this guideline, among i-share sa ubang schools and at the same time, atong pa-aprobahan sa mayor para wala na gyo’y problema,” said City Attorney Jerone Castillo.

E.O 66 prescribes “rules on the cancellation or suspension of classes and work in government offices due to typhoons, flooding, other weather disturbances, and calamities.”

Section 1 of the executive order states that the automatic cancellation or suspension of classes and work in government offices should be implied when; “Signal No. 1 is raised by PAGASA, classes at the pre-school level, in the affected area, shall be automatically cancelled or suspended; Signal No. 2 is raised by PAGASA, classes at the pre-school, elementary and se-condary levels, in the affected area, shall be automatically cancelled or suspen-ded; Signal No. 3 or higher is raised by PAGASA, classes at pre-school, elementary, secondary, and tertiary levels, in the affected area, including graduate school, as well as work in all government offices, shall be automatically cancelled or suspended.”

On December 8 when Rama declared suspension of classes, Cebu City was placed under public storm warning signal number 1.

On that day, UP-Cebu posted on its Facebook page that its “chancellors have authority to decide motu propio based on its own assessment of local conditions whether or not to suspend work in offices or classes or based on LGU decisions, as provided for by a standing memo of CHED on suspension of classes. Malacañang may also declare suspension of work.”

Castillo said USJ-R College of Law Dean Jonathan Capanas, in coordination with the city government and UP-Cebu, will draft the guidelines for the unified policy.

Others schools would also be consulted.

One of the proposed provisions in the guidelines is that the city must inform the schools about the suspension an hour before it formally suspends classes.  (FREEMAN)