• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya clarified that decisions regarding the suspension of face-to-face classes due to high heat index levels rest directly with the school heads and the schools’ division superintendent.
Gasataya said Nov. 3 that existing Department of Education (DepEd) guidelines authorize school administrators to evaluate classroom conditions, and cancel in-person teaching when temperatures reach between 30°C and 41°C.
The mayor emphasized that thermal conditions vary across institutions, as some classrooms remain comfortable, while others become unsuitable for learning during the peak heat.
“We are allowing the schools to assess and evaluate so they can make the necessary decisions regarding the cancellation of face-to-face classes,” Gasataya said.
Under current directives, schools that suspend in-person classes due to excessive heat are instructed to transition to alternative delivery modes, such as modular or online learning, to avoid instruction disruption.
A forecasted heat index of 41°C Nov. 3 prompted the suspension of in-person classes in Himamaylan City, Kabankalan City, the municipality of Hinigaran, and at Negros Occidental High School in Bacolod City. | TMD
