More areas suspend onsite classes due to extreme heat

MANILA, Philippines — More areas across the country have suspended onsite classes due to unbearable classroom conditions brought about by extreme heat, according to the Department of Education.

The DepEd said that as of yesterday, all classroom instructions had been defaulted to alternative delivery mode (ADM) in Quezon City, Caloocan City and Navotas City in Metro Manila; General Santos City; Polangui, Albay; Polomolok, South Cotabato; Maasim, Sarangani and the province of Sultan Kudarat.

In Pangasinan, the municipalities of Mangaldan, Sta. Barbara, Mapandan, Calasiao and San Manuel have suspended onsite classes.

In Central Luzon, Malolos City and Calumpit in Bulacan began implementing ADM yesterday, while Angeles City in Pampanga will implement it starting today.

Areas that will implement ADM in the Visayas include Passi City, San Carlos City, Sipalay City and the province of Biliran.

In Mindanao, onsite classes have been suspended in the following schools in Cotabato: Carmen Central District, President Roxas North and Kabacan District; and the following elementary schools in Koronadal City, South Cotabato: Sto. Niño, Marbel 3, Esimos Cataluna, Marbel 5, Manuel Dondiego, Mangga, Marbel 4 and Carpenter Hill.

Areas that have been in ADM since Monday are the cities of Dagupan, Iloilo, Kabankalan, Silay, Himamaylan, Bago, Bacolod and the municipalities of Banga and Tantangan in South Cotabato.

Onsite classes also remain suspended in the province of Negros Occidental, Maasin Central School, Pagadian City Pilot School and Buenavista Integrated School in Zamboanga City.

Public schools in Caloocan, Malabon and Navotas also adjusted class schedules yesterday in response to high heat index.

Caloocan announced that classes shifted to blended learning in all levels for public schools for their Tuesday afternoon classes.

Grade 6 pupils, however, remained in school as they were taking the National Achievement Test (NAT).

In Malabon, the city’s schools division office (SDO) released guidelines for canceling classes during extreme heat conditions to ensure student safety.

The SDO said that when the heat index reaches 42 degrees Celsius or higher, onsite classes will be