by Alfonso T. Ruda
DIPOLOG CITY, JUNE
4(PIA)--- Local government
officials and parents of school children in Zamboanga del Norte lauded the Department
of Education’s issuance of DepEd Order no. 43 which give the Local Government
Units the discretion to decide to suspend or cancel classes during calamities
and inclement weather, even without any typhoon signal warning issued by the
Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
(PAGASA).
DepEd
issued Order No. 43 to guide its regional offices and school officials on the
action to be undertaken in times of calamities.
The
said DepEd Order was issued after President Benigno Aquino III issued Executive
Order No. 66 on January 9, 2012 concerning the cancellation and suspension of
classes during inclement weather.
Based
on the EO, the LGUs are expected to announce the cancellation of classes not
later than 4:30 in the morning for the whole day cancellation and 11 o’clock in
the morning for the afternoon class suspension.
Ms.
Edith P. Tomong, a mother, former President of the Zamboanga del Norte Press
Club, Inc., and an employee of the Provincial Government of Zamboanga del
Norte, said this is a very laudable move of DepEd since any calamity that may happen
will not only affect the local residence of the area but also the financial
condition of the LGU, for they are the first one to address the needs of the
people that will be affected by the calamity.
Under
DepEd Order No. 43, Local Chief Executives, being the Chairperson of the Local
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council are given the authority to take
appropriate action to minimize the damage that maybe brought about by any
calamity and prevent the possible loss of lives in times of calamities.
Tomong,
pointed out that the Local Chief Executives are in a better position than anybody,
to assess the real situation in their respective areas and take appropriate
action to lessen the impact of the calamity to local populace.
Before,
the PAGASA will report on the weather condition to DepEd, then DepEd will get
report from the LGU, and back to DepEd who will in turn declare the
cancellation of classes. But now, the LGUs will assess the situation in their
area and declare the cancellation of classes if the situation warrants.
Under DepEd
Order No. 43, the cancellation of
classes is based on the following ground rules which must be strictly followed –
When Signal No. 1 is raised– no classes in private and public pre-school and
kindergarten classes; Signal No. 2 - no classes in private and public
pre-school, kindergarten, elementary and secondary classes and when Signal No.
3 is raised classes in all levels, including work of the DepEd officials are
also cancelled.(ATR/PIA9-Zambo Norte)