BACOLOD CITY – This city and three other local government units in Negros Occidental suspended face-to-face classes on Thursday, March 6, and Friday, March 7, due to extreme heat.

Mayor Albee Benitez issued an executive order late Thursday morning cancelling in-person classes from pre-school to senior high school for two days.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration La Granja Station in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental forecast the heat index to reach 40°C on March 6 and 41°C on March 7.

Benitez said the suspension was necessary for the safety and welfare of students. He said that private schools with airconditioned rooms and tertiary institutions may continue face-to-face classes. 

Private and public schools may shift to modular distance learning, performance tasks, projects, or make-up classes to ensure that learning competencies are met, he added.

Himamaylan City Mayor Raymund Tongson also cancelled classes on all levels for two days.

Kabankalan City Mayor Benjie Miranda only suspended classes on March 6 and ordered  resumption on March 7 after consultations with the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) and other stakeholders.

Classes on Thursday were reduced to half-day in E.B. Magalona town.