The San Juan City local government on Thursday, April 11, issued new class schedules to protect its learners and teaching personnel from the extreme heat the country is currently experiencing.

Mayor Francis Zamora

San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said morning classes in the city is now from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. while afternoon classes will be from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.  The modified schedule started on April 3.

"We are monitoring the situation and of course, we really have to work around the schedule dahil meron talagang morning shift at afternoon shift ang ating mga paaralan kaya hindi po talaga ganun kadali baguhin ang bilang ng oras ng ating pasok. We really are trying to avoid the peak which is around 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (We are monitoring the situation, and of course, we really have to work around the schedule because our schools have morning shift and afternoon shift classes. This makes it extremely difficult to change the hours of classes as we are trying to avoid the peak which is around 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.)," Zamora explained.

After speaking with the Department of Education - San Juan's (DepEd San Juan) Schools Divison superintendent, the mayor that principals and school administrators may adjust school hours or suspend face-to-face classes if the heat becomes unbearable and already poses a threat to the health and wellbeing of the students.

Zamora, who is also the Metro Manila Council (MMC) president, assures the public that all its schools and learning facilities are equipped with electric fans which can help relieve the discomfort during hot weather.

Based on the existing DepEd memorandum, DepEd Deputy Spokesperson and Assistant Secretary for Operations Francis Bringas explained that during unfavorable weather conditions, the school heads were instructed or given authority to suspend classes based on their “careful” consideration.

School authorities, he said, always await announcements from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) regarding the heat index in their respective areas.

“Iyon ang nagiging basehan din nila sa kanilang desisyon kung sususpindihin or hindi 'yung ating mga face-to-face classes at mag-shift na lang sa alternative or blended learning delivery mode (That has become the basis for their decision on whether to suspend our face-to-face classes and shift to alternative or blended learning delivery modes),” Bringas said.

Alternative Delivery Modes or ADMs, he explained, are “properly instituted” in schools to ensure learning continuity despite the suspension of face-to-face classes.

While DepEd’s policy on the suspension of in-person classes during adverse weather conditions covers public schools, Bringas said that affected private schools are highly encouraged to follow suit.

Although many private schools have installed air-conditioning units in their classrooms and are not as affected by this, Bringas said: “We are encouraging the private schools to do the same.”