‘Class suspensions to be based on data’

MANILA, Philippines —  The Department of Education is finalizing a comprehensive Joint Memorandum Circular to establish operational guidelines for suspending and resuming classes under Executive Order No. 130, s. 2026.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said EO 130 updates suspension rules by shifting to data-backed decisions, preventing unnecessary learning loss while keeping school communities safe.

For effective implementation, the JMC would set the operational guidelines and technical thresholds governing three distinct mechanisms for class suspensions and resumptions.

“When disasters and environmental hazards strike, our decisions must be swift, clear and firmly anchored on data from scientific agencies like PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) and Phivolcs (Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology),” Angara said.

“But we must also curb learning loss by ensuring they return to class the moment conditions permit,” he added.