Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Francis Orcio

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - As class suspensions brought by heavy rains from the southwest monsoon continue to disrupt schools in parts of the country, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) is pushing for a major shift in how the government handles weather-related class cancellations, away from blanket suspensions and toward more localized, school-level decisions.EDCOM 2 Executive Director Dr. Karol Mark Yee said the country needs to balance the safety of learners and teachers with the urgent need to protect instructional time, particularly as the Philippines continues to grapple with significant learning gaps in literacy, numeracy, science, and mathematics.“I think simula noong 2023, binabantayan na ng EDCOM iyong pagdating sa suspension ng classes. In fact, in our first year, nakita po natin 53 days iyong halos nawawala sa isang buong taon because of suspensions, calamities, heat index, typhoons, etc,&quot; he said.“Maraming araw ang nawawala kasi 180 days lamang ang ating instructional days. So, binantayan natin &#x27;yan for the last years and talagang nag-a-average 40 to 50 days,&quot; he added.Yee said the consequences are not the same across all grade levels. Younger learners, particularly those in Grades 1 to 3, are more vulnerable because they are still developing foundational literacy and numeracy skills and require more direct teacher interaction. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/15/edcom-2-rejects-rush-to-shift-school-calendar-pushes-climate-ready-learning-1610">EDCOM 2 rejects rush to shift school calendar, pushes climate-ready learning</a></div>Older learners, meanwhile, may be able to continue learning through prepared materials and alternative delivery modes, provided they have sufficient resources and are capable of learning independently.<div> </div>SHIFT FROM BLANKET SUSPENSIONSA key reform being pushed by EDCOM 2 is the amendment of Executive Order No. 66, s. 2012, which sets the rules for the cancellation or suspension of classes and government work during typhoons, flooding, other weather disturbances, and calamities.The order already allows localized suspensions in certain circumstances, but EDCOM 2 wants a clearer and more responsive framework for determining when classes should stop and how learning should continue.Yee said the policy should make clear who has the authority to suspend classes, require decisions to be informed by scientific evidence, and strengthen coordination among local governments, DepEd officials, and other agencies. More importantly, he said a suspension should not automatically mean that learning stops for everyone.“Bahagi nito iyong granularized suspension na ibig sabihin, sa isang lugar, hindi naman kailangan suspended lahat ng school. Kunyari, may heat index, pero iyong isang school na private, may aircon, payagan silang magtuloy ng klase para hindi lahat ng tao apektado,&quot; he explained.“Sa isang community, siguro, hindi suspended lahat, pero ang isang school lubog sa baha, payagan silang mag-suspend. So, hindi siya dapat blanket suspensions lagi-lagi. Intindihin din natin na kung may mga schools na kaya naman magpatuloy, using the prudent judgment of the principal, hayaan din silang magpatuloy,&quot; he added. Yee said the proposed amendments should also establish what a suspension actually means for learning, since announcements are not always interpreted consistently across communities.The goal, he said, is to align the overarching executive order with newer DepEd policies that distinguish between stopping, slowing down, and continuing learning during emergencies. <div> </div>DEPED&#x27;S FOUR-LEVEL LEARNING CONTINUITY SYSTEMYee also welcomed DepEd Order No. 014, s. 2026, or the “Guidelines on Learning Continuity in Emergencies,” which introduces four learning continuity levels—Hayo, Hinay, Hinga and Hinto—based on the safety, well-being, and readiness of learners and teachers.He described the order as an important step because it gives schools clearer guidance on what to do when emergencies disrupt regular classes.However, the new DepEd guidelines need to be supported by policies that ensure a coordinated government response.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/15/edcom-2-repeated-class-suspensions-could-deepen-ph-learning-crisis-1625">EDCOM 2: Repeated class suspensions could deepen PH learning crisis</a></div>“It needs supporting policies to make sure na iyong blanket approach ng buong gobyerno pare-parehas. Kasi ngayon iyong DepEd order is for DepEd. Pero iyong DILG may orders din &#x27;yan, iyong DSWD may response din &#x27;yan,&quot; he said.&quot;Para iisa iyong approach natin, at malinaw na malinaw talaga kung sino magko-call off, ano iyong mga flexibilities, sino bang may authority, ano ba iyong dapat gawin,&quot; he added.EDCOM 2 also wants the implementation of learning continuity measures to be monitored and evaluated, including the learning packets now being distributed by DepEd.Yee said the government should determine whether these interventions are actually helping students learn, how many learners are able to use them effectively, and which groups continue to struggle. <div> </div>MAKE-UP CLASSES SHOULD TARGET ACTUAL LEARNING GAPSWhile EDCOM 2 recognizes that make-up classes may eventually be necessary, Yee said schools should not be forced into a single formula for recovering lost instructional time. The three-term school calendar, he noted, was partly designed to provide a buffer for disruptions, with an expectation that each term would still have around 55 learning days and could absorb several days of suspension.But once lost days exceed what can reasonably be absorbed through the calendar and alternative delivery modes, schools need to determine what learning actually needs to be recovered.“Iyong make-up classes, hindi din pwedeng one-size-fits-all. May mga schools talaga na dapat within the school day. Minsan naman, kaya iyong Saturday. Ang mahalaga, nahahabol iyong pagkatuto at may assessment tayo para makita kung nakahabol talaga iyong mga bata,&quot; he said.Yee said the immediate situation remains concerning, particularly because the school year is still in its first term and more weather-related disruptions are expected later in the year.<div> </div>

As consecutive days of class suspensions brought by heavy rains from habagat continue to disrupt schools in parts of the country, EDCOM 2 is pushing for a major shift in how the government handles weather-related class cancellations

As consecutive days of class suspensions brought by heavy rains from habagat continue to disrupt schools in parts of the country, EDCOM 2 is pushing for a major shift in how the government handles weather-related class cancellations

EDCOM 2 pushes granular class suspensions amid weather disruptions

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EDCOM 2 pushes granular class suspensions amid weather disruptions

Francis Orcio,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 16, 2026 12:08 AM PHT

Read More:

DepEd

Class Suspension

EDCOM 2

Learning Crisis

Education

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