CITY OF CALAPAN – Occidental Mindoro Gov. Eduardo Gadiano on Sunday ordered the suspension of classes from April 3 to 5 in all levels in public and private school due to power outages.
In an executive order, Gadiano said the power interruptions would affect the learning and working environments of the students and school personnel.
He said the class suspension would “minimize the health and safety risks” brought about by the power outages and ensure the “physical and mental well-being of learners and school personnel.”
The province has been reeling from power outages that range from 16 to 20 hours a day.
On March 31, the provincial board also issued a resolution suspending classes in the province from April 3 to 4 due to what it described as a “power crisis.”
The power interruptions have been taking place in the province amid the searing heat index in the country.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, the highest heat index recorded for this dry season was 47 degrees Celsius in Occidental Mindoro’s San Jose town on March 25 and in Butuan City in Agusan del Norte on March 24.
On March 30, concerned citizen Nikki delos Reyes wrote an online open letter to local officials, appealing for the suspension of work and class due to the continuing power outages.
“There is not enough sleep and rest, especially for the young and old who are sick; the daily business operations and incomes are affected,” Delos Reyes said.
A large part of the province has been suffering from hours of blackouts due to the lapsed supply agreement between Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative and the Occidental Mindoro Consolidated Power Corp., which runs the bunker-fired diesel power plant in San Jose.