Weather suspends classes in 1,289 Western Visayas schools

By Jennifer P. Rendon

More than 1,000 schools across Western Visayas suspended face-to-face classes Friday, July 10, as rains from Typhoon Inday, internationally known as Bavi, and the enhanced southwest monsoon affected the region.

Records from the Department of Education in Western Visayas showed that 1,289 schools shifted to alternative delivery modes after their respective local government units suspended in-person classes.

The suspensions covered 50 municipalities and Iloilo City, affecting 414,072 learners.

In Aklan, 298 schools across all 17 municipalities suspended classes, affecting 88,933 learners.

Antique recorded the highest number of affected schools, with 538 schools and 144,909 learners covered by the suspension.

Antique Gov. Paolo Everardo Javier issued a memorandum July 9 suspending classes at all levels throughout the province.

The memorandum also suspended work in provincial and municipal government offices, as well as national government agencies and offices across all branches of government.

Offices responsible for basic and vital services, health care, disaster preparedness and response, and public safety were ordered to remain operational.

These included the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the Office of the Provincial Health Officer with a skeleton workforce, hospitals, the Office of the Provincial General Services Officer, the Office of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer, the Provincial Engineer’s Office, and other essential provincial and national government agencies.

In Capiz, eight municipalities suspended classes in 216 schools, affecting 61,677 learners.

In Guimaras, two municipalities suspended face-to-face classes in 33 schools, affecting 16,253 learners.

In Iloilo province, five municipalities suspended classes in 139 schools, affecting 29,173 learners.

The Iloilo City government suspended face-to-face classes from preschool through senior high school, affecting 73,127 learners in 65 schools.

DepEd-6 said Passi City in Iloilo and Roxas City in Capiz had not suspended classes as of its latest report.

On Thursday, July 9, 459 schools in 15 Antique municipalities suspended classes, while only one local government unit in Iloilo province did so.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration warned that scattered rains and thunderstorms could cause flash floods or landslides in parts of Western Visayas.