• CHERYL G. CRUZ
There will be no classes Sept. 16 in all levels, both public and private schools, in Bacolod City and in almost all local governments in Negros Occidental, as per advisories issued Sept. 15.
In Bacolod, Mayor Alfredo Benitez announced that classes from pre-school to senior high in both public and private schools are canceled today, due to the heavy to intense rainfall forecast brought about by the southwest monsoon.
“As for the college level, cancellation will be at the prerogative of their respective schools,” the mayor said in a statement Sunday afternoon.
In response, the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos said that with the latest pronouncement of Benitez, “classes in all levels are suspended Sept. 16. Offices will observe normal operations (and) preliminary examinations for college will start on Sept. 19.”
La Consolacion College Bacolod, meanwhile, rescheduled college-level preliminary exams to Sept. 19-25. “Classes will be conducted asynchronously on Sept. 16; students are encouraged to review for the exams during this period.”
Face to face classes of Basic Education Unit (BEU) is cancelled Sept. 16, the University of St. La Salle also announced. The USLS-IS (Integrated School) “will be on flexible learning time (asynchronous) to allow students to catch up with missed outputs and scaffolds.”
“PT Week is moved to Sept 17-20 and quarterly summative assessment is postponed to Sept 23-25. Liceo, however, will shift to synchronous classes via Zoom, and teachers will provide Zoom links. Flexibility will be given to both students and teachers, allowing asynchronous sessions in case of power outages or internet issues,” the USLS advisory states.
The STI-West Negros University said that for the safety of everyone, face-to-face classes in all year levels are cancelled. Asynchronous classes will be implemented, it added and advised students to reach out to instructors or department heads for any queries.
Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod also suspended classes from pre-school to senior high, as per its 6:21 p.m. Facebook post.
Mayor Rex Jalando-on, meanwhile, ordered the suspension of classes at all levels, public and private schools in La Carlota City, on Sept. 16 and 17 due to the heavy to intense rainfall forecast in Negros Occidental.
Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan also ordered the suspension of classes in all levels Sept. 16, but ordered “all municipal employees, regular and casual, including job order, clean and green, and honorarium personnel to report to work at 1 p.m. Sept. 15, and to be on standby, or on call, for emergency matters relative the inclement weather and the current unrest of Mt. Kanlaon.”
Other LGUs that suspended classes for today, as of press time, were Ilog, Silay, Talisay, Bago, Don Salvador Benedicto, Cadiz, Sagay, Sipalay, E.B. Magalona, and Binalbagan, as well as Himamaylan, Kabankalan, Escalante, San Carlos, Moises Padilla, Hinigaran, Murcia, Pontevedra, Valladolid, Isabela, Pulupandan, and Cauayan, as per radio reports.
Two low pressure areas are being monitored by DOST-PAGASA, which could enhance the southwest monsoon and bring more rains over Negros Island and surroundings areas. | CGC
