BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Education in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DepEd-CAR) has advised school heads to assess local weather and road conditions before deciding on class suspensions, stressing that students and personnel’s safety must always be prioritized.
In an advisory issued Sunday evening and shared on DepEd-CAR’s official social media page, Regional Director Dr. Estela Cariño emphasized that no student should risk their safety out of fear of being marked absent.
“No student should be exposed to danger for fear of being marked absent in their class. Alternative delivery mode should be done so that learning does not stop. For all DepEd-CAR personnel, if going to your work station is between life and death, please choose life. You can always call your immediate superior for an alternative work arrangement,” Cariño said.
In a message on Monday, Cariño noted that even within the same province or city, weather and road conditions can vary significantly, making localized decisions necessary.
The southwest monsoon enhanced by Typhoon Bising recently brought heavy rains to the region, prompting some local government units, such as Abra and Tabuk City, to suspend classes on July 4, while others continued with regular schedules.
Baguio City, despite experiencing intermittent downpours since June 30, did not suspend classes.
Cariño urged parents to make informed decisions.
“If there is no announcement of class suspension but the road going to the school is prone to landslide and other dangerous situations, parents should not let their children go to school,” she said.
She added that public school teachers have been instructed to be ready to guide learners and parents through alternative modes of learning when face-to-face classes are suspended. **Liza Agoot
