Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto reminded students and school personnel not to wait for a local announcement of class suspension when Signal No. 1 or higher has already been raised in Metro Manila as this automatically means that classes in all levels are suspended in the city.
Sotto explained the existing Executive Order No. PCG-48, series of 2024, which localizes the Department of Education (DepEd) Order No. 37, series of 2022.
EO No. 37 mandates that classes and work in schools are cancelled or suspended during a typhoon, heavy rainfall, flood, earthquake, and power interruptions/brownouts.
During a typhoon, DepEd said that in-person, online classes and work from Kindergarten to Grades 12 and Alternative Learning System (ALS) in all levels are “automatically cancelled” in schools situated in Local Government Units (LGUs) issued with Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS) 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
The mayor added that if a typhoon or heavy rainfall occurs but no red or orange rainfall warning is issued, school principals have the authority to cancel or suspend classes in their jurisdiction if they deem the conditions unsafe for students and staff.
He emphasized that red and orange rainfall warnings signify that classes in levels are automatically suspended, while yellow rainfall warning only covers classes under K-12 (early childhood care and development (ECCD) and Kinder to Grade 12).
Aside from the announcements from the official Facebook page of the Pasig City Public Information Office and the Pasig City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, he also urged the public to refer to the weather advisories posted on PAGASA’s bulletin, “as they are sufficient enough to merit class suspension.”
Sotto explained that the EO PCG-48, s. 2024, was created to speed up and standardize the process.
Meanwhile, the mayor also encouraged everyone to pray for those affected in areas that are still recovering from the onslaught of the recent typhoons and at risk of being hit again by approaching calamities.