LIVE UPDATES: Face-to-face classes, work suspended as transport strike looms

Several schools and local government units have suspended in-person classes and work operations during the week-long transport strike of several transport groups nationwide.

INQUIRER.net composite / PHOTOS: AFP

MANILA, Philippines — Several schools and local government units have suspended in-person classes and work operations during the week-long transport strike of several transport groups nationwide.

According to the transport group Manibela, the strike is to protest the impending traditional jeepney phaseout under the government’s implementation of the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization plan.

This has prompted the following schools and local governments to declare a shift to be online or remote set-ups for their classes and work operations.

Manila City

On Saturday, the city government of Manila asked public schools to conduct asynchronous classes for students at all levels due to the upcoming transport strike.

It also encouraged private schools within the city to do the same.

Muntinlupa

The local government of Muntinlupa will implement asynchronous or synchronous classes in public elementary and high school classes on transport strike week, as it encourages private schools to switch to online classes.

In a Facebook post on Friday, Mayor Ruffy Biazon also announced that Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa would conduct asynchronous or synchronous classes for the whole week. At the same time, Colegio de Muntinlupa suspended its classes from March 6 to 7.

However, community-based Early Childhood Education (ECED Muntinlupa) centers will have classes.

Caloocan City

The Caloocan City government ordered public and private schools to switch from face-to-face classes to online learning to ensure the safety of students amid the looming transport strike next week.

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Pasig City

Pasig City suspended face-to-face classes in public and private schools from March 6 to 7 in response to next week’s transportation strike.

“Conduct of asynchronous or online classes is highly encouraged during the suspension period,” the city government said in a Facebook post on Friday.

Quezon City

The local government of Quezon City called on schools and businesses to conduct their classes and operations asynchronously or online.

Cainta

The local government of Cainta, Rizal, advised all schools within the area to do online classes during the transport strike week.

“Schools can adopt such other measures so as not to disrupt classes and to assist students in continuous learning in other ways,” it said in a statement Saturday.

Marikina City

Given the transport strike, in-person classes across all levels in both private and public schools are suspended in Marikina City.

“Sa mga araw na mayroong tigil-pasada, ipagpapatuloy ng mga mag-aaral ang kanilang gawain at pag-aaral sa kanilang tahanan gamit ang kanilang modules. Sa mga may kakayahan, maaaring magsagawa ng online classes bilang alternative learning modality,” the city public information office said.

(On the days of the transport strike, students will continue their school activities and classes from their homes through their modules. For those who can, they can hold their online classes as an alternative learning modality.)

Angeles City

Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. of Angeles City, Pampanga has issued a memorandum suspending in-person classes at all levels–in both public and private schools–during the transport strike.

Lazatin called on schools to instead conduct modular or online classes during the period.

The local government will also deploy ten buses to provide free rides for commuting workers during the strike, he added.

De La Salle University

The LaSallian, the official student publication of De La Salle University, shared a memorandum from the administration declaring the shift to online classes in its Manila campus from March 6 to March 11.

Ateneo de Manila University

In a memorandum, Ateneo officer-in-charge Joaquin Sumpaico III recommended that “all onsite classes at all levels in all campuses be transitioned to online mode for the duration of the strike.”

“For classes that need to be conducted onsite, such as laboratory classes, the departments or offices concerned are requested to work out arrangements in consultation with their students and with the approval of their unit heads,” the advisory read.

All university offices are likewise recommended to work through online means except for those who can only perform their duties onsite.

“School units and university offices are requested to make the necessary preparations to go fully online for most of the services during the said period,” it noted.

Adamson University

Adamson University has likewise announced that all classes across all levels will be held online from March 6 to 11 should the transport strike push through.

Work in school offices will likewise be done remotely except in the offices where skeletal personnel will be required to render services onsite.

Cavite State University

The Cavity State University said it had suspended in-person classes from March 6 to March 11 in anticipation of the transport strike.

Classes will instead be done asynchronously or through online means. The school’s faculty members will likewise be working remotely.

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

In an advisory, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines said it would shift to online classes from March 6 to March 10 because of the transport strike.

University of the East

The University of the East (UE) has issued a memorandum declaring the shift to online classes at all levels from March 6 to March 11 should the transport strike continue.

“UE employees of both campuses will render services through the work-from-home mode, except for key offices subject to instructions from their respective heads,” it added.

But should the transport strike not push through, UE said classes in all levels and work “will continue as normal.”

De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde

The De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde, through an advisory from the office of its chancellor, has announced that it will transition to online classes and work from March 6 to March 11 in Benilde Manila, Benilde Antipolo, Benilde Deaf School and Benilde Senior High School.

However, Hotel Benilde will remain open and proceed with its full operations.

“Should there be a change in the situation, the college reserves the right to revert to regular on-campus and onsite work operations,” it added.

Colegio de San Juan de Letran

In an advisory, Letran Manila explained its contingency efforts during the transport strike.

All classes and offices will go online from March 6 to March 10.

“Coverage of topics to be discussed will be those originally scheduled after the third quarter exams or midterm exams. Exam coverage will remain unchanged,” the school said.
A skeletal arrangement will be in place for its frontline offices, but it will only apply from March 6 to March 7 “as [they] monitor developments in the situation.”

Mapúa University

Mapua University said that should the transport strike push through. It will conduct online classes in both Intramuros and Makati campuses from March 6 to March 11 “until further notice.”

Work in its offices will similarly be held remotely, except for a skeletal workforce in some of its offices.

Philippine Science High School in Quezon City

From March 6 to March 8, classes in the Philippine Science High School – Quezon City will be held online, according to the school’s publication–the Science Scholar.

It said this is according to an announcement emailed by its Department of Student Affairs chief Dr. Benigno Montemayor Jr.

“Face-to-face lab classes and long tests are still allowed on Monday and Tuesday,” the publication said.

College of Saint Anthony

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