CEBU, Philippines — Private schools in Cebu City have the discretion to suspend classes when air quality reaches hazardous levels. This was announced following a meeting between Mayor Nestor Archival, education officials, and school administrators late last week.
The move comes as Metro Cebu continues to experience haze episodes, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching unhealthy levels last week and raising concerns over student safety and learning continuity.
Archival’s Chief of Staff and spokesperson Kenneth Siasar confirmed that the mayor convened school owners, administrators, and presidents at the City Hall to clarify the city’s policy direction.
Among those present was University of Cebu president Atty. Augusto Go, alongside representatives from the Department of Health (DOH)-7, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)-7, and other institutions.
Siasar said that while some private schools argued their air-conditioned classrooms could shield students from pollution, Archival stressed that exposure extends beyond school premises.
“It’s not just within the school, but outside the school. Majority of students commute, and from their barangay to the school, they are exposed to unhealthy air,” Siasar told reporters in yesterday’s press briefing.
The mayor emphasized that decisions must consider the general welfare of the public, not just conditions inside classrooms.
Under the agreed framework, schools are expected to monitor AQI levels and act accordingly.
Readings between 151 and 200, classified as “Very Unhealthy,” allow private schools to continue classes provided students wear protective masks.
However, when AQI levels exceed 200, private schools may decide whether to suspend classes, subject to the mayor’s authority to intervene when public health is at risk.
“The moment nga makita sa mayor nga it affects the general public, then mo-intervene gihapon ang mayor,” Siasar noted.
Siasar added that Archival also considered distributing masks to the 150,000 students in public schools, while private institutions committed to safeguarding their own populations.
Siasar said that health must take precedence over learning.
“Kung tan-awon nimo, ang pinakataas gyud ang panglawas. Under extreme condition, mag-unsa man ang learning kung apotado ang panglawas?” he added.
During the meeting, concerns were raised about the impact of repeated suspensions on learning outcomes.
A school official reportedly cited studies showing that modular methods result in reduced comprehension, warning that prolonged reliance on distance learning could affect student performance.
Still, Archival maintained that protecting health must remain the priority, even if it disrupts instruction.
Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña, Go, and other education leaders joined health and environmental officials in stressing the importance of evidence-based decision-making and inter-agency coordination.
The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB)-7, City Health Department, and school administrators were urged to work closely to ensure that suspension decisions are guided by reliable monitoring data and public health recommendations.
The proposed guidelines will undergo further coordination with health and environmental authorities to establish clear, consistent, and science-based measures for future air quality incidents. — (FREEMAN)