Statement of Malacañang on Request of Interior Sec. Jonvic Remulla
Malacañang appealed t the local government units to declare class suspensions “ahead of time” amid the request of the Department of Iinterior and Local Government (DILG) to be given the authority to do it.
In the Philippines, classes are suspended not only during the Philippine holidays but as well as in times of calamities. Usually, class suspensions are announced due to a bad weather — in times of heavy rains and typhoons.
Recently, Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla sought an authority to declare class suspensions. His request came amid the usual complainst of delayed announcements from the local government units which have the authority to suspend the classes in schools for the safety of the students.
However, based on a report on Inquirer, Pres. Bongbong Marcos has yet to decide on the request of Interior Sec. Jonvic Remulla. Malacañang claimed that the proposal needs to be studied first.
“As of now, the President still has no official answer to the suggestion of [Interior] Secretary Jonvic Remulla. This will be studied first,” Palace press undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said.
According to the Malacañang official, if there would be benefits in allowing the Department of Interior and Local Government to declare the suspension of classes, then Pres. Bongbong Marcos may give the request a positive response. The Palace stressed that, for now, it is the local government unit that remains the head of the declaration of class suspensions.
Based on the report, the Palace recognized that there are instances of late declarations of class suspensions by local chief executives, particularly governors and mayors, causing a delay in the forwarding of information. Malacañang appealed to the heads of the LGUs to speed up the class suspension orders.
“Class suspensions should be declared ahead of time, so that students and their parents will not be stranded in flooded streets or stuck in heavy traffic while on their way home,” Castro said.
According to the Malacañang press undersecretary, the Palace will discuss with the local chief executives and the Department of Education about the ways to expedite the process of class suspensions. They will also talk about drafting guidelines for the conduct of online classes to minimize learning disruptions among the students.
Furthermore, the Palace assured that the President has already ordered the government agencies to find ways to minimize the impact of the rainy season. Recently, Malacañang also aired the side of Pres. Bongbong Marcos on the case of ‘missing sabungeros’ which caused national alarm.