Over 2,200 W. Visayas Schools Shift to Remote Learning

By Mariela Angella Oladive

More than 2,200 schools in Western Visayas have suspended in-person classes and shifted to remote learning as a precautionary measure due to Tropical Storm Kristine.

As of 2 p.m. on Tuesday, October 22, the Department of Education (DepEd) Western Visayas reported that 2,253 schools have implemented alternative delivery modes (ADM), affecting 982,359 learners across the region.

The breakdown of schools with suspended face-to-face classes by Schools Division Office (SDO) is as follows:

• SDO Cadiz City: 81 schools (41,697 learners)
• SDO Capiz: 447 schools (116,009 learners)
• SDO Escalante City: 48 schools (26,287 learners)
• SDO Negros Occidental: 293 schools (154,653 learners)
• SDO Bacolod City: 70 schools (112,321 learners)
• SDO Iloilo: 419 schools (151,891 learners)
• SDO Silay City: 39 schools (32,295 learners)
• SDO Kabankalan City: 119 schools (56,474 learners)
• SDO San Carlos City: 27 schools (9,230 learners)
• SDO Antique: 512 schools (132,339 learners)
• SDO Himamaylan City: 56 schools (27,520 learners)
• SDO Roxas City: 50 schools (37,436 learners)
• SDO Iloilo City: 66 schools (77,656 learners)
• SDO Aklan: 26 schools (6,551 learners)

ADM allows students to continue their education remotely using learning modules during the suspension of face-to-face classes. This setup counts as an official school day, avoiding an extension of the academic calendar.

DepEd Western Visayas spokesperson Hernani Escullar Jr. noted that the type of ADM used varies depending on the school’s situation, with learning modules being the most common method.

Local government units (LGUs) declared the suspension of face-to-face classes in response to Tropical Storm Kristine.

Kristine, internationally known as Trami, is the 11th tropical cyclone to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this year. It arrived just after midnight on Monday and is forecasted to impact vast regions of Luzon, the Visayas, and parts of Mindanao.

While the region is not directly affected by the storm, its trough is bringing rains to Western Visayas, according to PAGASA Iloilo weather observer Jeff Maquiling.

Cloudy skies and scattered rains are expected to continue until the storm exits PAR.