DepEd: New policy on class suspensions not yet in effect

MANILA, Philippines — After several local governments cited it for suspending classes on Friday, the Department of Education (DepEd) clarified that the new guidelines for class cancellations and suspensions during disasters and other natural calamities have yet to take effect.

In a public advisory released on Friday evening, the DepEd said Department Order (DO) No. 37 signed by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Thursday has not yet been filed with the Office of the National Administrative Register (Onar) based at the University of the Philippines Law Center.

Every agency of the government is required to file their policies with the Onar for them to take effect under the Administrative Code of 1987.

The DepEd also requested Malacañang to issue an executive order, which will supersede then-President Benigno Aquino III’s Executive Order (EO) No. 66 issued in 2012.

Several provisions of DO 37 contradicts EO 66, which prescribed the rules on the cancellation or suspension of classes and work in government offices due to typhoons, flooding and other calamities.

For instance, under DO 37, classes from kindergarten to senior high school are automatically suspended in public schools in areas where any of the five Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS) has been raised.

Under EO 66, automatic cancellation of classes will depend on the level of TCWS issued.

In areas under Signal No. 1, classes at preschool are suspended, while under Signal No. 2, classes in preschool to secondary levels are canceled.

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