In Cebu City:Mayor Rama changes class schedules

CEBU, Philippines — Instead of suspending face-to-face classes, educational institutions under the jurisdiction of Cebu City have been mandated to adopt modified class hours in response to the rising heat index caused by the El Niño.

Last Sunday, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama released an Executive Order (EO) that urges all educational institutions in all levels to adopt and implement modified school hours as response to the rising heat index caused by the El Niño.

Yesterday, April 8, 2024, a press conference was called following the issuance of the EO that stresses the modified class hours in Cebu City encompassing public and private schools.

Its provisions include morning classes that will begin from 6 a.m. until 12 noon while afternoon or evening classes will begin at 4 p.m. and end at 9 p.m.

It is also emphasized that no physical or face-to-face classes shall be conducted within 12 noon until 4 p.m.

Despite other local government units (LGU) suspending face to face classes, Rama reiterated that it isn't applicable to Cebu City, adding that experiences of the rising heat index in certain areas may vary.

Rama further added that the learning system will be more of household-based where parents and guardians emanate managing supervision and bringing in the notion of the concept of “empowerment”.

Rama, however, added that private schools who may opt to apply the online class scheme or retain the original schedules shall submit their letter of intent to the Office of the Mayor, attaching their contingency plan.

Cebu City Administrator Attorney Collin Rosell said that the EO is the product of all their convergence meetings, particularly those attended by Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Department of Education (DepEd) to exercise the options.

“Kay mao man ni ilang gisulti, dili para walay klase ang ilaha para mu pa-continue sila og klase. Para mu continue sila pa klase dili sila kaayo sa modified,” said Rosell referring to the opinion of the educational agencies.

“Mao ni sya nga kung mo-exercise sila sa option (online classes), mupadayon sila, they are required to manifest in writing with their intent to exercise the said option unya i-submit nila diri sa office of the mayor,” he added.

Rama then emphasized that on the schedules that may be disrupted by the released order, particularly for college and graduate schools, he said schools can exercise their decision-making powers, adding that the EO is only guidance to observe caution.

He added that he would only want the schools to not put the students in “jeopardy.”

Just like the private schools, college and graduate schools may also have to manifest their intent in writing with their contingency plan.

“In all situations that may occur, they will be answerable,” said Rama.

The EO also notes provisions that educational institutions must be well-lighted, sanitized, and well-equipped, as well as observe preventative health measures, ensure security and readiness, and enforce transportation management, among others.

Cebu City Division School Superintendent Dr. Nimfa Bongo in an interview with reporters said they will begin implementing the EO on Thursday.

Bongo admitted that the only challenge for them is the preparation of the modules and the subjects since they will also have shortened schedules.

To address this, they will have to implement additional assignments for the students to be done at home.

“I commend the decision of the mayor,” she said, referring to her agreement with the mayor’s EO.

In an interview with reporters, Margerie Catulong, a mother of three students attending a public school in Cebu City, said they would prefer to adopt the mayor’s EO particularly on the morning classes that will begin at 6 A.M.

“Dili raman problema basta makapahuway lang og sayo ang mga bata sa gabii, sayo rasad sila makamata sa buntag,” said Catulong.

She added that the modified hour system is an effective way to prevent the impacts of El Niño, adding that their only challenge is to wake up early in the morning.

Marivic Dionson, who is also a mother of two elementary students attending a public school, also agrees with the modified hours adding that it would prevent her children from suffering from the extreme heat inside their classroom.

She added that she would opt to continue classes rather than adopting an online class scheme as face to face classes are more effective for her children.

Meanwhile, in a separate press conference yesterday, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said Mayor Rama may want to consider suspension of face-to-face classes instead as she has declared so for the entire province.

“I decided to issue the memorandum that all classes will be suspended. I did talk to the Regional Director of DepEd to inform him that I will be suspending across the board, the entire Province…classes for all public schools and asked him (DepEd RD Salustiano Jimenez) the propriety of issuing a department order coming from the Department of Education for the entire island for consistency and that should include the city of Cebu for all public schools,” said Garcia.

DepEd-7 then issued its own memorandum to this effect.

Garcia stressed that DepEd RD Jimenez did the right thing to issue such an order for the entire Cebu island, including supposedly for Cebu City.

On the other hand, DepEd-7’s Jimenez said that they will implement the EO of Rama for Cebu City starting April 11, 2024.

Jimenez has earlier said that while he has issued a memo to suspend f2f classes in the province, a separate issuance by Rama or any mayor of highly-urbanized cities would prevail.

In Gov. Garcia’s presscon, she also said that it is also DepEd’s mandate to decide on the scheduling of classes. — (FREEMAN)