(AFP FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. said the opening of classes will continue on Monday, July 29, but administrators of schools affected by the recent flooding have the discretion to decide whether or not they need more time to recover.
Marcos shared his directive to the Department of Education (DepEd) after conducting a situation briefing involving the effects of Super Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon on Rizal province.
“Gawin niyo lahat. Ang pagpasok, gawin niyo hangga’t maaari, kung kaya niyo buksan. That’s the usual ano. Hangga’t maaari, open the schools and conduct classes. But there are areas na hindi talaga pwede,” said Marcos in a chance interview on Friday.
(Do everything you can. The resumption of classes, do it as much as possible, if you can. As much as possible, open the schools and conduct classes. But there are areas that really can’t)
Marcos said some schools may have to conduct their classes outside school buildings, or through asynchronous learning, as experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As much as possible. Hangga’t maaari. If the school buildings are a condition to take classes, they will do it,” he said.
“Pero meron pa talaga na kakaunti na lang ang may tubig pero marami na nag-iwan ng putik na hindi magamit. Tapos may mga nasira na gamit, we’ll have to replace them. As much as possible. It will be up to the school to decide what they— kung kaya o hindi,” Marcos further added.
(But there are still few flooded schools, but others are muddy and cannot be used. Then there are damaged items, we’ll have to replace them. As much as possible. It will be up to the school to decide whether or not they will open.)
The opening of classes has been set on July 29, Monday.
Meanwhile, DepEd earlier said that at least 90 schools nationwide have postponed the opening of classes for School Year 2024-2025 on Monday.