MANILA, Philippines ? The Department of Education on Monday denied reports that it was canceling the Christmas vacation of students to make up for the suspended school days due to tropical storm "Ondoy."

In a statement, DepEd said make up classes could be held on Saturdays so that schools affected by the storm could still meet the required 204 school days this academic year.

?(DepEd) wishes to clarify that Christmas break is not being canceled. Make-up classes in affected schools may be scheduled during Saturdays to complete the 204 school days,? it said.

Teresita Domalanta, DepEd-NCR director, said that affected schools could also use the ?semestral break? during the last week of October or modules could be given to students so that they could study at home if the Saturday classes are not enough.

?The Christmas vacation won?t be affected. The semestral break, Saturday classes, and the modules are more than enough to make up for the suspension of classes,? Domalanta said.

DepEd suspended classes for a week in regions which President Macapagal-Arroyo put under a state of calamity due to Typhoon Ondoy.

Domalanta said that the resumption of classes in most schools in Metro Manila on Monday went well with some students even joining in the cleaning their rooms. Of the 664 public schools in the capital, 605 resumed classes and only 59 still had their classes suspended.

Domalanta said the schools that did not have classes included 20 schools in Taguig/Pateros, 18 in Pasig City, 10 in Quezon City, four in Marikina, three in Muntinlupa, two in Caloocan, and one each in Marikina and Malabon/Navotas. The 18 schools in Pasig are expected to resume classes today.

?If the evacuees really can?t return home, then we will identify a building or two for their use. They could stay at the covered court or the gym,? Domalanta said.