1.    The revised guidelines on the suspension of classes in cases of typhoons and other calamities are hereby issued for the information of all concerned.

a. Automatic Suspension of Classes

The Department has established guidelines for the automatic suspension or cancellation of classes in all public and private elementary and secondary schools that do not require any announcement.

When Signal No. 1 is raised by PAG-ASA, classes at the pre-school and elementary levels shall be automatically suspended in all public and private schools.

When Signal No. 2 is raised by PAG-ASA, classess at the pre-school, elementary and secondary levels shall be automatically suspended in all public and private schools. PAG-ASA normally makes these announcements over broadcast medIa 11 pm in the evening and 5 am in the morning.

The automatic suspension of classes also applies to public school teachers since they shall be required to hold make-up classes in lieu of the suspended classes.  In the case of private schools, the suspension of work by school personnel shall be at the discretion of the school heads/directors/principals.

b. Localized Suspension of Classes

In the absence of typhoon signal warnings from PAG-ASA, localized suspension or cancellation of classes in both public and private elementary and/or secondary schools in specific divisions may be implemented.

The Superintendent shall decide on the suspension of classes if such covers the entire division.  If the suspension is for specific schools only, the school principal/head shall decide on the matter.

Coordination with the local chief executives shall be undertaken at all times since they chair the local Disaster Coordinating Council (DCC) and can mobilize local government personnel to evaluate the threats to public safety such as heavy rains, earthquakes, floods, high tide and transport strikes.

As head of the local DCC, local chief executives can also decide on the suspension of classes. When such a decision is made, they are requested to inform the Superintendent and Regional Director so that the Department can help in the dissemination of the information to the public.

c. Parents' Responsibilities

Parents have the ultimate responsibility for determining whether their children should go to school, even if no order for the suspension of classes has been issued, if they feel that travelling to or from school will place their children at risk.

d. Announcements

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 case of the other regions as much as possible, not later than 4:30 a.m.  Such announcements shall be done primarily through broadcast media and shall take effect the whole day.

In cases where there are classes in the morning and suspension of classes is only for afternoon sessions, announcements should be made, as much as possible, not later than 11:00 am.

In case of division-specific or school-specific suspension of classes, the superintendent or the school head, as the case may be, should inform the community through the media and also inform the LGU executives, the Superintendent (for school-specific suspensions) and the Regional Director.

2.    Required Number of School Days

Parents and teachers are reminded that the required number of school days for the school year shall be considered especially in holding make-up classes to offset the days when classes are suspended.

These make-up classes shall be held on Saturdays or on weekdays beyond the original set school calendar in both public and private schools.

3.    School Officials/Personnel

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

4.    All previous orders and regulations relevant to the suspension of classes due to typhoons, floods and other calamities are hereby rescinded by this Order.

5.    Widest dissemination of this Order is enjoined.

Adopted: 23 July 2003