Romblon town mayor orders morning-only on-site classes amid heat

Romblon. INQUIRER FILES

LUCENA CITY — All public and private schools in San Jose, Romblon will hold in-person classes only in the morning starting Monday until the end of the month to minimize the exposure of teachers and students to high temperatures brought by extreme hot weather.

Mayor Egdon Sombilon in his Executive Order No. 14-2024 declared the suspension of “afternoon onsite classes” from April 8-30 “due to intense level of heat.”

Sombilon also ordered the implementation of blended and modular learning at all levels.

“The Office of the Municipal Mayor has received letter requests from school heads asking permission allowing them to implement Alternative Learning Delivery Mode such as blended and Modular Distance Learning (MDL) from April 8-30, 2024,” Sombilon explained in his order issued Friday, April 5.

READ: More areas suspend in-person classes due to high heat index

A copy of the order was posted on the Facebook page of the local government’s public information office.

“To ensure the welfare and safety of the public, especially the pupils and students against intense heat conditions in the municipality, there is a need to declare a suspension of onsite learning and shift to alternative delivery modes such as blended and modular learning,” the mayor said.

Citing Presidential Executive Order No. 66, series of 2012, Sombilon explained that he has the authority to declare localized cancellation or suspension of classes in public and private schools due to typhoons, flooding, and other weather disturbances and calamities.

READ: In-person class suspensions, changes from April 2 due to hot weather

The mayor also noted that the Department of Education Memorandum No. 2023-077 dated April 20, 2023, specifically cited the “extreme heat temperatures” as among the valid grounds for class suspension.

“While Department Order No. 037, series of 2022, provided for the implementation of Modular Distance Learning (MDL) in the event of cancellation or suspension of classes due to natural calamities, disasters, and human-induced hazards to ensure learning continuity and that learning competencies and objectives,” Sombilon explained.

The Romblon town chief executive advised teachers and students to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, stay indoors especially during the hottest part of the day, use umbrella, wear something comfortable and lightweight, and avoid strenuous activities during the peak heat hours.

Based on the state weather bureau’s latest forecast, several areas across the country are expected to experience “danger category” heat indices exceeding 42 degrees Celsius.