Citing the law, Palace says opening of classes can’t be postponed to a later date

MANILA, Philippines — The opening of classes can no longer be postponed to a later date as the law mandated that the resumption of classes should be held not later than August of every year, Malacañang said Monday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said this after Vice President Leni Robredo joined the persistent call to postpone the scheduled August 24 class opening, saying that some teachers are not yet ready for the distance learning approach.

“May batas po ‘yan. [There’s a law for that] We have to comply with the law, which is the last week of August. Unless Congress will pass a law providing that we could open on a later date,” Roque said in a televised press briefing.

Roque was referring to Republic Act 7797 which states that the school year shall “start on the first Monday of June but not later than the last day of August.”

The Department of Education had recently announced that the upcoming school year would start on August 24 until April 30  with schools adopting various learning delivery options such as distance or online learning, and homeschooling amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier, the Senate approved on third and final reading a measure that would allow the President to move the opening of classes beyond August during times of emergency.