Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATED) — The two-day class suspension in Metro Manila is a “preventive measure,” the Education Department said Monday, as the region records cases of influenza-like illnesses. The two-day suspension was meant to disinfect classrooms and to inspect the structural integrity of schools, said DepEd Asec. Jocelyn Andaya, who heads the agency’s regional office in Metro Manila.“It must be clarified that DepEd is not reacting out of fear, but preparing with foresight,” said Andaya in an interview with ABS-CBN News.“Kaya tayo nagkaroon ng dalawang days suspension of classes. Kailangan siguro tingnan ng ating mga lokal na pamahalaan kung ano ang mabuting paraan,” she added.The official noted that they are implementing an alternative mode of learning to ensure there wouldn’t be any “learning loss.”“Ang lahat ng ating mga supervisor at principal ay tinututukan din ang mga lessons na ginagawa ng mga bata para wala tayong learning loss in the two days that we are preparing our classrooms,” she said.“Hindi rin naman sagot na buong week o buong buwan ay magkakaroon ng suspensyon ng face-to-face classes. Magkakaroon tayo ng drills in the next couple of days for our learners and school personnel,” she added.She urged local government units planning to suspend classes because of influenza-like illnesses to think about this carefully, now that some localities already did so amid some cases.“Hindi rin naman sagot na buong week o buong buwan ay magkakaroon ng suspensyon ng face-to-face classes. Magkakaroon tayo ng drills in the next couple of days for our learners and school personnel.&quot;<div>FLU-LIKE CASES DOWN IN PH – DOH</div>In a separate interview, Health Department spokesperson Albert Domingo told ABS-CBN News that cases of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) between January and September this year have reached 121,716.This is eight percent lower compared to the 132,538 cases recorded during the same period in 2024.Domingo, however, said they are monitoring ILI cases in the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, and Mimaropa regions. “Napapansin namin na yung mga bilang nila ay maaaring magsipagtaasan. Ngunit napansin namin na sa 4 na rehiyon na nabanggit ay walang DepEd na nag-suspend ng face-to-face classes,” he said.  “Kapag pinuntahan natin ang advisory ng DepEd, pag binasa natin, sila ay nagkakaroon ng sinasabi natin na precaution, pag-iingat, sinisigurado nila na kasabay ang pag-inspect ng structures… laban sa Big One na earthquake na gusto nating maiwasan,” he added.Among the symptoms include cough, colds, fever, chills, and bodyache. But Domingo clarified—this is not COVID-19 or a new virus.“Malayo na siya, hindi siya ang dahilan. Walang bagong virus, lahat ng binanggit ko ay dati na nating kilala,” he said.He instead urged Filipinos to wear face masks to prevent infections, but noted that this remained voluntary and not mandatory.<div>MARIKINA</div>The two-day health break to all students in Marikina City sought to stop the spread of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) and to inspect school and hospital structures in preparation for the “Big One” quake, its mayor said on Monday.In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Marikina City Mayor Maan Teodoro said suspending classes in her city was a “preventive measure, it&#x27;s not a reactive measure that we did.”“Mayroon kasing clamor and actually nakakausap ko ang ilang parents and mga magulang ng mga teachers na may mga cases sila ng mga estudyante na nag-aabsent sa paaralan, most of [whom are experiencing] flu-like symptoms pero mild cases lang. It&#x27;s not an outbreak,” said Teodoro.“Hindi naman talaga masasabi na ganoon kadami but then we want to at least, ngayon pa lang pine-prevent na namin yung pag-spread,” she added.In one class alone, she said, around 10 students were absent because of the flu.Her 13-year-old daughter even contracted the flu last week, which was why the health issue is close to her.”It is safe to say na sa isang klase ng estudyante, siguro mga 10 ang absent. So medyo malaki yun na bilang kaya talagang naisip natin na kailangan we should prevent yung spread ng diseases lalo na kung communicable, pinagpahinga natin ang mga estudyante natin pati na ang mga guro,” she said.“I already ordered to form a team na talagang magdi-disinfect ng premises ng pamahalaan,” she added.Several workers from Marikina City disinfected Sto. Niño Elementary School and Barangka Elementary School following the mayor’s directive.Staff scrubbed floors, disinfected the covered court and misted classrooms as part of intensified cleaning efforts.Parents and students agreed with the class suspensions.&quot;Mahirap pag makakasagap ng bacteria ang mga apo namin. Mas maigi na walang pasok, mas kampante kami na nasa bahay lang,” said Geraldine Antepuesto, a grandmother of two grade school students. &quot;Para din ma-sanitize ang mga classrooms namin and hindi na lumala and dumami ang cases ng sakit,” said Charls Andrada, a fourth year college student.<div> </div>

The two-day class suspension in Metro Manila is a “preventive measure,” the Education Department said Monday, as the region records cases of influenza-like illnesses.

The two-day class suspension in Metro Manila is a “preventive measure,” the Education Department said Monday, as the region records cases of influenza-like illnesses.

DepEd says 2-day class suspensions in NCR a ‘preventive measure’

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DepEd says 2-day class suspensions in NCR a ‘preventive measure’

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 13, 2025 08:30 PM PHT

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Updated October 13, 2025 10:09 PM PHT

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