DILG hails MMC's new guidelines on class suspension during calamities
By AJ Siytangco
Published Aug 9, 2018 12:20 pm
By Chito Chavez
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has expressed overwhelming support to the Metro Manila Council's (MMC) move to draft new guidelines in the suspension of classes in the metropolis during inclement weather.
DILG officer-in-charge Eduardo M. Año
(DILG / MANILA BULLETIN) DILG officer-in-charge (OIC) Eduardo M. Año said the decision of the council to come up with a uniform policy for class suspension is necessary to avert confusion. He added that the new set of guidelines will keep students and workers who commute daily out of danger during heavy rains and flooding incidents. “We are glad that the Metro Manila local government units (LGUs) have taken proactive steps on this matter considering the difficulty encountered by students and employees of returning home if class or work is suspended late,” said Año. The DILG chief says the department is willing to work with mayors and local government leagues in crafting the policy on class and work suspension. “We are ready to assist the Council in whatever way we can to come up with the needed guidelines,’’ said Año. On Tuesday, the MMC resolved to create unified guidelines on class suspension after several mayors were bashed and scored on social media for the late class suspensions. The government’s hotline 8888 was also flooded with complaints about mayors regarding non-suspension of classes. DILG Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Jonathan E. Malaya added that he understands the predicament faced by mayors in deciding whether to suspend classes and work or not because they have to take into consideration weather advisories and reports on the real situation on the ground. “We recognize the difficulty of mayors in making an informed and wise decision each time there’s a bad weather. We hope that through the soon-to-be released policy and with constant collaboration with the concerned agencies of the government, they will be ably guided in making the right pronouncement that will be acceptable to the students, workers, parents and even the business community,” Malaya said. Malaya also reminded the local chief executives to always be guided by the Operation Listo manuals published by the department that enumerate the actions that they should do before, during or after typhoons. Earlier, the DILG urged local government units (LGUs) to be more prompt in declaring the cancellation of classes and work in their respective areas after receiving numerous complaints from the public regarding the late suspension of classes by some LGUs. According to the DILG, local chief executives, as chairpersons of their respective local disaster risk reduction and management councils (LDRRMC), should be able to make wise and quick decisions based on the situation on the ground, especially during typhoons and calamities. In 2012, Malacañang issued Executive Order No. 66 series of 2012, which gives local chief executives, as LDRRMC chairs, the power to cancel or suspend classes and work in government.
DILG officer-in-charge Eduardo M. Año(DILG / MANILA BULLETIN) DILG officer-in-charge (OIC) Eduardo M. Año said the decision of the council to come up with a uniform policy for class suspension is necessary to avert confusion. He added that the new set of guidelines will keep students and workers who commute daily out of danger during heavy rains and flooding incidents. “We are glad that the Metro Manila local government units (LGUs) have taken proactive steps on this matter considering the difficulty encountered by students and employees of returning home if class or work is suspended late,” said Año. The DILG chief says the department is willing to work with mayors and local government leagues in crafting the policy on class and work suspension. “We are ready to assist the Council in whatever way we can to come up with the needed guidelines,’’ said Año. On Tuesday, the MMC resolved to create unified guidelines on class suspension after several mayors were bashed and scored on social media for the late class suspensions. The government’s hotline 8888 was also flooded with complaints about mayors regarding non-suspension of classes. DILG Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Jonathan E. Malaya added that he understands the predicament faced by mayors in deciding whether to suspend classes and work or not because they have to take into consideration weather advisories and reports on the real situation on the ground. “We recognize the difficulty of mayors in making an informed and wise decision each time there’s a bad weather. We hope that through the soon-to-be released policy and with constant collaboration with the concerned agencies of the government, they will be ably guided in making the right pronouncement that will be acceptable to the students, workers, parents and even the business community,” Malaya said. Malaya also reminded the local chief executives to always be guided by the Operation Listo manuals published by the department that enumerate the actions that they should do before, during or after typhoons. Earlier, the DILG urged local government units (LGUs) to be more prompt in declaring the cancellation of classes and work in their respective areas after receiving numerous complaints from the public regarding the late suspension of classes by some LGUs. According to the DILG, local chief executives, as chairpersons of their respective local disaster risk reduction and management councils (LDRRMC), should be able to make wise and quick decisions based on the situation on the ground, especially during typhoons and calamities. In 2012, Malacañang issued Executive Order No. 66 series of 2012, which gives local chief executives, as LDRRMC chairs, the power to cancel or suspend classes and work in government.