Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla is proposing online learning as a middle ground, following calls from private schools to review the government’s blanket suspension of classes during bad weather.“We respect the views of the private schools management. They have their academic schedules to consider,” Remulla said Tuesday. “The best compromise would be the flexibility to shift to online classes when the government announces a suspension.”This comes after the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to review existing policies, which they say deprive schools of the flexibility to adapt during storms.COCOPEA argued that the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s automatic suspension orders have hampered schools’ academic calendars, undermined investments in digital platforms since the pandemic, and “discouraged resilience in school communities.”“While we recognize that the safety of students and school personnel is the primary concern of the government, education must not also be neglected, as its unnecessary interruption also impacts students’ general welfare,” the group said in its statement.Remulla, however, noted that schools are not privy to the government’s real-time weather forecast models, which serve as the basis for suspension orders.He also said government advisories on class suspensions are “not intended to disrupt learning but to protect the most vulnerable during emergencies.Remulla emphasized that suspension recommendations come from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), based on the latest hazard monitoringWhile acknowledging the concerns of private schools, the DILG maintained that protecting students and preserving their right to education “are not opposing goals.”“Timely decisions save lives, while coordination and preparedness ensure that learning continues,” it said, adding that it stands ready to work with the Department of Education (DepEd), local government units, and private institutions to balance both priorities.The policy debate has gained traction after consecutive weather-related suspensions in the past week leading left both public and private schools scrambling to adjust class schedules and examinations.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla is proposing online learning as a middle ground, following calls from private schools to review the government’s blanket suspension of classes during bad weather.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla is proposing online learning as a middle ground, following calls from private schools to review the government’s blanket suspension of classes during bad weather.

Remulla backs online shift as compromise on class suspensions

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

Remulla backs online shift as compromise on class suspensions

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 02, 2025 08:36 PM PHT

|

Updated September 02, 2025 08:50 PM PHT

Read More:

DILG

class suspension

private schools

COCOPEA

education

Department of Interior and Local Government

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.