No classes for 4 days due to APEC

MANILA, Philippines - Classes in Metro Manila schools will be suspended for four days, from Nov. 17 to 20, due to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit where 21 world leaders are expected to attend.

Department of Education (DepEd) regional director Luz Almeda issued a memorandum extending the original two-day class suspension to four days.

Malacañang earlier proclaimed Nov. 18 and 19, the dates of the APEC Leaders’ Summit, as non-working holidays in Metro Manila.

However, Almeda said yesterday that the DepEd decided to extend the class suspensions for security reasons and to ease traffic congestion.

In line with the suspension of classes, Almeda gave school divisions the discretion to schedule make-up classes to ensure that they comply with the required 201 school days for the academic year.

“Make-up classes should conform with the mechanism agreed by the school administrators and parents,” said Almeda.

In an earlier order, Education Secretary Armin Luistro said make-up classes would be held to compensate for the school days spent for activities deemed beneficial to the learning and teaching process.

Meanwhile, Almeda also reminded school heads to include the importance and benefits of APEC in the lessons of Araling Panlipunan.

The coastline of Parañaque City will be off limits to fishermen during the APEC summit in November, a city official said yesterday.

Some delegates would be staying in hotels in the reclamation area.

Mario Jimenez, chief of the city special services division, said that fishermen were informed of the fishing ban during the summit.

The Philippine Coast Guard together with the city’s Bantay Kalikasan Task Force would implement the ban.

“Fishermen, however, will be allowed to fish outside the restricted zone,” he said.

At least 150 fishermen will be affected by the fishing ban in Manila Bay.

Jimenez also said that a special lane will be set up for APEC delegates in selected streets in the city to ensure faster travel.

Security preparations for the APEC summit were enhanced by the Air Force and Navy during the Interoperability Exercise DAGIT 2015, which ends today.

Air Force spokesman Col. Enrico Canaya clarified that the inclusion of APEC in the scenarios was not due to a threat but part of preparations for the event.

“Considering that the visit of the heads of state is near, we incorporated the scenario in the exercise. It involved the transport of personnel, medical evacuation and the testing of capability,” Canaya said.

“There are no threats. It is just part of the normal preparations,” he added.

Armed Forces deputy chief of staff Lt. Gen. Edgar Fallorina said government forces tasked to secure the APEC are preparing for any eventuality.

Aside from APEC security preparations, DAGIT (Dagat at Langit) 2015 drills dealt with integrated air defense, maritime security, search and rescue and test of Air Force and Navy joint warfare capabilities.

DAGIT 2015 started last Sept. 7 and involved 230 air force soldiers and 150 Navy troopers. The closing rites will be held today at the 15th Strike Wing headquarters in Sangley Point, Cavite. 

The Air Force deployed 16 air assets during the exercise, including S-211 jets, S-76 Air Ambulance, Sokol Rescue Helicopter, UH-1H and UH-1D and C-130 while the Navy sent an Islander plane, an AW109E helicopter, frigate BRP Gregorio del Pilar, a communications van and a medical team. – With Alexis Romero, Perseus Echeminada