Private Schools Seek Review of DILG’s Blanket Class Suspensions

This comes in response to the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) appeal to the President to support education continuity and resilience. In a letter posted on its Facebook page, COCOPEA stated that the “‘blanket’ and ‘automatic’ orders of suspension of classes by the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in all schools within the selected localities hamper school preparations, discourage resilience in school communities, and devalue the education of students.” The group further stressed that such blanket orders “deprive school administrators of the proper exercise of academic judgment in matters affecting student learning, such as the number of class days, major examinations, and their overall development.”

In the same letter, COCOPEA acknowledges that while the safety of students and school personnel is a priority, education and the students’ general welfare remain paramount. The association, moreover, expressed its “willingness to collaborate with the local government units, the DILG, and the Department of Education to explore ways to mitigate the negative effects of adverse weather conditions on our students.”

In a radio interview, COCOPEA legal counsel Joseph Noel Estrada noted that the Department of Education (DepEd) previously allowed private schools to exercise discretion: “The recent order from the DepEd stated that it is not automatic that when there is class suspension, private schools will also suspend—the discretion is given to them.”

So far, the DILG has issued about four blanket class suspensions covering Metro Manila and several other provinces, the most recent of which was on September 1. On July 23, the DILG clarified that Malacañang had authorized Secretary Jonvic Remulla to declare work and class suspensions during inclement weather and disasters based on recommendations from the NDRRMC. The department has also faced criticism for issuing orders too late and for their “meme-like” announcements.

In December 2024, DepEd issued its Revised Guidelines on Class and Work Suspension in Schools During Disasters and Emergencies. The order states that the department “recognizes the importance of uninterrupted learning, even in times of disasters and calamities, especially for learners in disaster-prone areas.” It also allows flexible measures, noting: “Whenever feasible, schools shall shift to distance learning modalities through online distance learning, modular distance learning, or blended learning to ensure learning continuity, in the event of face-to-face class suspensions.”

Under the guidelines, the authority to assess and implement suspension measures rests with Local Chief Executives (LCEs), school division superintendents (SDS), and school heads.

The guidelines outline the following rules for suspending classes:

Typhoons and Tropical Cyclones (based on PAGASA’s Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals, or TCWS):

Heavy Rainfall or Flooding Warnings:

Here’s how DepEd is protecting public school learners.