• San Simon (face-to-face classes, public and private) until Aug. 28
• Sto. Tomas (face-to-face classes, public and private) until Aug. 28

School Principals can cancel classes at any time if, in their assessment, buildings and other structures are in danger of collapsing or have sustained major damage.

The School Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Team Head should clear the return of students and personnel to buildings and other structures.

Class Suspension during Power Outages

5. Power Outages/ Power Interruptions/ Brownouts

There will be no automatic cancellation or suspension of classes due to power outages/power interruptions/brownouts in schools. If power outages/power interruptions, or brownouts have resulted in a poor learning environment, school officials may cancel or suspend classes at their discretion.

6. Adjustments to Learning Delivery Due to Suspensions/Cancellations of Classes

If classes are canceled or suspended, distance learning or make-up classes shall be implemented to ensure that learning competencies and objectives are still met.

In adherence to the provision of DepEd Order No. 14, s. In 2021, learners who missed learning activities due to class suspensions caused by various disruptions, such as disasters and/or emergencies resulting from natural or human-induced hazards, shall be accorded due consideration in completing their learning tasks.

7. Maintenance of Workforce and Activation of DRRM Teams

Teaching school personnel, including ALS teachers, and non-teaching school personnel in schools, Division Offices, Regional Offices, and the Central Office shall not be required to report to work, except for those mandated to render security, safety, finance, engineering, sanitation, health, and disaster response duties.

Schools, on the other hand, must always be ready to implement remote work with measured output.

Central, Regional, and Schools Division Offices, as well as schools, shall activate their DRRM Teams to prepare, monitor, and respond to the situation. DRRM Team members, particularly DRRM Coordinators and Engineers, shall be required to report to work in the aftermath of the disaster to continue undertaking response, early recovery, and reporting based on established DRRM protocols (e.g., an inspection of school facilities to vet damages as reported by School DRRM Coordinators, detailed assessment of damaged facilities for purposes of developing the Program of Works for infrastructure costing in rehabilitation and recovery plans,  and participation in coordination meetings with LDRRMCs). Other DRRM Team members may likewise be required to report to work as needed.

Officials of private schools shall exercise discretion regarding the work arrangements of their DRRM personnel.

8. Use of schools as Evacuation Center or COVID-19 Quarantine and/or Isolation Facility/Vaccination Center

Schools shall not be used as quarantine and/ or isolation facilities or vaccination centers. The authority given to Regional Directors in allowing schools to be designated as quarantine and/or isolation facilities/ vaccination centers under Office Memorandum OM-Osec-2020-004 (Guidance to Regional Directors for Action Requests by Local Government Units to Use DepEd Schools and Engage DepEd Personnel in Activities Related to COVID-19) is hereby lifted. Office Memorandum OM-OSEC- 2021-03-003 (Use of DepEd Classrooms and Other Facilities as Vaccination Centers) is likewise hereby repealed.

In other disasters, schools may be used as immediate evacuation sites, but this should not last more than 15 days. LGUs should not use schools as long-term shelters for evacuees.

9. Conduct of Psychological First Aid

As maintaining a conducive learning environment requires addressing the immediate needs of affected learners and personnel in the aftermath of disasters, all Schools Division Offices, with the support of Regional Offices, shall assess Mental Health and Psychosocial Support needs and services and lead the provision of Psychological First Aid (PFA). This shall include the mobilization of trained PFA providers and partners and, if needed, the establishment of referral pathways for learners and personnel identified for further specialized psychological support services. Required health standards shall always be applied.

10. Responsibility of Parents or Guardians

The DepEd still maintains that parents or guardians are responsible for determining whether their children should attend classes, taking into account their physical and/or mental health during disasters and calamities. This applies even if no order to cancel or suspend classes has been issued.

However, it is also the responsibility of parents or guardians to ensure that their child can catch up on the competencies learners should master.