LAGUNA Governor Sol Aragones declared that face to face classes in both public and private schools for the whole province are suspended until October 31.
This is to give way for earthquake preparations.
Aragones further announced that alternative delivery mode (ADM) will instead be implemented, which include online and modular classes starting today, October 14.
The directive, meanwhile, caused a stir online, with some disagreeing with the governor’s decision, saying that there was no point suspending classes since earthquakes are unpredictable; while some fear that the cancellation of face to face classes might negatively affect the learning of students.
However, in a Facebook Live yesterday, Aragones defended her decision, “Ang mga lilipas na araw na walang klase o walang online classes, pwede pa nating habulin ‘yan. Pero ang buhay ng tao, isa lang, hindi na pwedeng maibalik pa.”
She said that she consulted with the province’s Task Force Lindol and they agreed that the suspension of face to face classes would be an opportunity to prepare for an earthquake.
She emphasized that while earthquakes are indeed unpredictable, the threat of The Big One still looms and the LGU needs to be ready for it. She said that it is better that the province and its residents will be prepared for the worst case scenario.
Based on the provincial government’s data, the West Valley Fault which will cause the feared Big One, will traverse areas in San Pedro, Santa Rosa, Cabuyao, Calamba, and Binan.
Aragones said that she will issue an executive order for city and municipal governments to conduct inspections on all buildings, including those of schools, to ensure their integrity and possible need for retrofitting.
In coordination with local disaster risk reduction and management offices, the province will also fix the designated evacuation zones that residents can run to after an earthquake.
At the same time, hospitals in the province will be put on alert in preparation of an earthquake and its after effects such as injuries.
DepEd reacts
In a separate statement, the Department of Education said that while they respect the decision of LGUs to cancel face to face classes in favor of students’ safety, “this responsibility must be exercised with balance and prudence.”
DepEd agrees that extended periods of cancelled classes may “disrupt learning and affect students’ development.”
As such, the agency will coordinate with local Schools Division Offices to make sure that alternative modes of learning will be implemented properly and ensure learning continuity.
DepEd also encourages LGUs to re-evaluate the situation on the ground and see whether class suspensions should remain in effect.