60 Masbate schools resume in-person classes

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines — Nearly half of the schools that suspended in-person classes in Masbate following clashes between communist rebels and government troopers last week have resumed face-to-face classes.

Nene Merioles, Masbate schools division superintendent, said 20 schools in Cataingan town and 40 in Placer lifted onsite class suspensions on Monday.

Up to 140 schools suspended face-to-face classes due to the encounters.

“Some schools lifted the suspension after being cleared of any threat... There were no reported casualties among learners and school personnel,” Merioles said.

She said in-person classes in 42 schools in Cawayan, 13 in Dimasalang, eight in Esperanza, seven in Pio V. Corpuz and two in Placer remain suspended.

The Department of Education (DepEd) regional office in Bicol said 55,199 students and 2,815 teachers were affected when 140 elementary and secondary public schools in six towns in Masbate suspended face-to-face classes.

Merioles said clashes between government forces and New People’s Army rebels occurred in Barangay Villahermosa in Cawayan town and Sitio Tawo in Barangay Locso-an in Placer.

“These incidents escalated following a reported ambush of a police patrol car in Barangay Gaid in Dimasalang,” she said.

Merioles said a bomb explosion was also reported around half a kilometer away from the Manlot-od Elementary School in Placer.

Mayflor Jumamil, DepEd-Bicol spokesperson, said teams composed of psychologists would conduct debriefing of affected students.