Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 28) — The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) on Wednesday clarified that higher education institutions (HEIs) are guided by separate guidelines from the Department of Education (DepEd) on the suspension of classes due to weather disturbances.
“HEIs have long been guided by Executive Order No. 66, Series of 2012, on the suspension of classes, due to typhoons, flooding, and other weather disturbances and calamities,” CHEd Chairman Prospero De Vera III said in a statement.
CHED Memorandum Order No.15 states that classes at the collegiate level, including graduate schools, are automatically suspended or cancelled when Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TWCS) No. 3 is raised in the area.
The order also states that classes in HEIs could be suspended at the discretion of local government unit heads or HEI heads in special circumstances such as road damage or flooding.
“Until the amendment or revocation of the said Executive Order and CMO No. 15, Series of 2012, CHEd instructs all HEIs to observe these guidelines in their respective campuses,” De Vera said.
The recently released DepEd guidelines state that classes are automatically suspended in all local government units where TWCS No. 1 to 5 is raised.
Automatic cancellation of classes also applies in areas where a yellow, orange, or red rainfall warning is raised. Classes are also cancelled in areas under a flood warning.
The DepEd issued the order on Sept. 1, covering students and employees in public schools as well as all personnel in its central, regional, and division offices.
