MANILA, Philippines — Classes in all levels in Metro Manila from Tuesday, March 10, to Saturday, March 14, have been canceled due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) threat.
President Rodrigo Duterte made the announcement in a Monday night press briefing in Malacañang.
“Classes will be suspended in [the] NCR [National Capital Region] beginning tomorrow and will end on March 14 — the reason being tignan natin incubation period,” Duterte said.
However, students will still have to study at home even during class suspensions as “insisted” by Education Secretary Leonor Briones, Duterte said.
He added that the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the police would act as “truant officer.”
Meanwhile, the President thumbed down the proposed cancellation of government work.
“The government has to function. We need all [of the employes] — at least [for] now,” he said.
During the press briefing, Duterte also announced four new confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country, bringing the total cases to 24.
/atm