Students rush to their school along UN Avenue in Manila during a heavy downpour. (Photo by Mark Balmores)
The local government of Pasig has suspended in-person classes from kindergarten to senior high school, early childhood care and development (ECCD), and alternative learning system (ALS) programs in both public and private schools in the city due to the yellow rainfall warning in Metro Manila on Thursday, July 3.
The suspension was announced following moderate rainfall brought by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat).
The local government of Marikina also suspended classes from 10 a.m. onwards at all levels, both in public and private schools, due to the expected continued rainfall in the afternoon.
As of 5 a.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised the yellow rainfall warning in Metro Manila, as well as in Bataan, Cavite, Rizal, Bulacan, Zambales, and Batangas. This level of rainfall may cause flooding in low-lying or flood-prone areas.
In 2024, Pasig City Mayor Vico 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.
With this, he 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 at all levels are suspended in the city.
EO No. 37 mandates that classes and work in schools are cancelled or suspended during a typhoon, heavy rainfall, flood, earthquake, and power interruptions or brownouts.
During a typhoon, DepEd said that classes and work, both in-person and online, from kindergarten to grade 12, as well as ALS programs, are “automatically cancelled” in schools located in local government units (LGUs) placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS) No. 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 by PAGASA.
Sotto 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 the automatic suspension of classes at all levels, while a yellow rainfall warning only covers classes under K to 12, including ECCD and kindergarten to grade 12.