Guidelines on Class Suspension During Typhoons

The Department issues revised guidelines to govern when classes are suspended during typhoons and other calamities.
The guidelines are intended to enable information and coordinated action among DepEd officials, school personnel, parents, and local government units.
The order enjoins widest dissemination of the guidelines.

Automatic suspension of classes applies to all public and private elementary and secondary schools under the typhoon-signal conditions described in the order.
When Signal No. 1 is raised by PAG-ASA, classes at the pre-school and elementary levels are automatically suspended in all public and private schools without the need for any announcement by the Department.
When Signal No. 2 is raised by PAG-ASA, classes at the pre-school, elementary, and secondary levels are automatically suspended in all public and private schools without the need for any announcement by the Department.
PAG-ASA normally makes these announcements over broadcast media 11 pm in the evening and 5 am in the morning.
Automatic suspension covers public school teachers, who must hold make-up classes for suspended classes.
For private schools, the suspension of work by school personnel is at the discretion of the school heads/directors/principals.

In the absence of typhoon signal warnings from PAG-ASA, localized suspension or cancellation of classes may be implemented for specific divisions.
The Superintendent decides suspension of classes when it covers the entire division.
The school principal/head decides suspension of classes when it is for specific schools only.
Coordination with local chief executives is required at all times because they chair the local Disaster Coordinating Council (DCC).
Local chief executives, as heads of the local DCC, may decide on suspension of classes and must inform the Superintendent and Regional Director so the Department can assist in dissemination to the public.

Suspension of classes should be announced by the Undersecretary for Regional Operations or, in his absence, the Regional Director in the case of NCR, and by the Regional Director in the other regions.
Announcements must be issued not later than 4:30 a.m. as much as possible.
Announcements are to be done primarily through broadcast media and take effect for the whole day.
If classes are held in the morning and suspension applies only to afternoon sessions, announcements should be made as much as possible, not later than 11:00 a.m.
For division-specific or school-specific suspensions, the superintendent or school head must:
- inform the community through the media; and
- inform the relevant LGU executives, plus the Superintendent (for school-specific suspensions) and the Regional Director.

Parents retain ultimate responsibility to decide whether their children should go to school even when no suspension order has been issued.
Parents must exercise that responsibility if they feel that traveling to or from school will place their children at risk.

The required number of school days for the school year must be considered when holding make-up classes to offset days when classes are suspended.
Make-up classes must be held on Saturdays or on weekdays beyond the original set school calendar in both public and private schools.

School officials and members of Disaster Coordinating Committees in schools designated as evacuation areas are requested to render service even when classes are suspended.
They must coordinate with local government officials on rules, orders, and guidelines for evacuation centers.

All previous orders and regulations relevant to the suspension of classes due to typhoons, floods, and other calamities are rescinded by this order.
The order enjoins widest dissemination of the guidelines.