Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto reminded Pasigueños, especially parents, of the existing guidelines in the city regarding the automatic cancellation or suspension of classes and work in schools during disasters or natural calamities.
On Tuesday, August 27, Sotto mentioned Executive Order No. PCG-43, s. 2022, which is aligned with the guidelines released by the Department of Education (DepEd).
The EO states that classes in public and private schools located in Pasig City under DepEd (K-12, alternative learning system, and ECCD/day care) are automatically suspended upon the issuance of an orange or red rainfall warning by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
“Kapag orange or red rainfall warning po tayo, automatic po ang suspension ng klase. Hindi na kailangan i-announce, pero ia-announce pa rin ‘yan ng DepEd (When there's an orange or red rainfall warning, classes are automatically suspended in our city. There's no need for an announcement, but the DepEd will still announce it),” Sotto said.
He added that if no orange or red rainfall warning is issued, the Schools Division Office (SDO) or school administrators have the authority to cancel or suspend classes.
“As much as possible, ako, hindi na ako magsususpinde ng klase. So ayan po, automatic (classes suspended) po kapag orange o red (As much as possible, I won't be suspending classes anymore. So, just to clarify, classes are automatically suspended when it's an orange or red alert),” Sotto emphasized.
The EO states that in the event of calamities or natural disasters such as typhoons, heavy rainfall, floods, and earthquakes in the city, as declared by the assigned government agencies, face-to-face and online classes at all levels will be automatically cancelled.
When the class suspension is announced at a time when classes have already begun, the school shall immediately suspend the classes and work and send everyone home if it is safe to do so.
The EO added that the city mayor shall decide on the cancellation of classes in cases where the weather events are not specifically caused by typhoons or official weather warnings from PAGASA and other agencies such as the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
The public can check the EO through this link: bit.ly/PC_EONo_43_s2022