Classes at all basic education levels in Quezon City will be suspended on Monday when President Aquino delivers his State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambasa complex, the Department of Education (DepEd) said Friday.
The city-wide suspension is the first under the new administration on the day of the SONA, DepEd said.
Traditionally, only schools in areas near the Batasang Pambansa complex suspend their classes in anticipation of heavy traffic because of tight security and street protests.
Make-up classes
Corazon Rubio, officer-in- charge of the Quezon City Schools Division, said make-up classes will be held on Saturday for lost classroom time because of the suspension.
Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista also instructed the Quezon City Police District to observe maximum tolerance in dealing with militant groups holding protest rallies on the day of the Sona.
The city government also formed its own logistics and human resource task force led by Department of Public Order and Safety chief Elmo San Diego, as a civilian counterpart of the police force.
Around 6,806 policemen will be deployed in eight areas on Monday.
These are Ever Gotesco mall, St. Peter Church, the Sandiganbayan, Capitol Estate, Times Street, the north and south gates of the House of Representatives, and San Mateo Road in front of Northview Subdivision.