Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 22) — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) should call the shots in class and work suspensions, a lawmaker said Tuesday.
Representative Salvador Belaro, Jr. said having one national agency as “one source” to be the authority for suspensions helps streamline announcements.
“We are proposing it should be DOST,” said Belaro of the 1-Ang Edukasyon party list on CNN Philippines’ The Source.
“We should take note of the findings of science and technology with respect to storms, earthquakes, (and) other natural, manmade calamities,” he added.
Belaro is the author of House Bill 6072, or the “Rationalized Cancellation and Suspension of Work and School Classes Act of 2017.”
The bill aims to establish a “timely, evidence-based, and people-centric” system for class and work suspensions in light of natural disasters and other unforeseen circumstances.
The DOST has the authority to measure evidence, such as earthquake intensity or flood levels, Belaro said.
“These are… verifiable and not subject to speculations or opinions of various interest groups,” he added.
His bill was filed in Congress last July 27 and is pending with the Committee on Local Government.
To date, decisions on class and work cancellations are made by local government units. Schools and offices also have the power to decide on suspensions for their respective institutions as they deem necessary.
However, in his explanatory note of the bill, Belaro said, “All too often, authorities have not been timely and accurate in their declaration of class and work suspensions or cancellations.”
Under the proposal, the DOST Secretary sits as chairman of the Inter-Agency and Multisectorial Committee which approves the implementing rules and regulations. Other members of the committee are the Secretaries of the Departments of Education, Interior and Local Government, Finance, Trade and Industry, and Labor, along with other officials such as the Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education.
There are also various reasons for cancellations enumerated under the law, particularly typhoons, flooding, storm surge and tsunamis, toxic chemic spills, and fires.
According to Belaro, the DOST will “[harness] people at the ground level who are experts at that area,” such as cooperating with the Bureau of Fire Protection to determine classes suspended due to fire.
Preventive suspensions also include situations like an active shooter or hostage-taking, the approach or invasion of rebels or terrorists, a state of emergency, and even the “widespread and prolonged incapacitation… of traffic control systems.”
Special circumstances for suspension under the law include widespread loss of electric power and water supply, or the collapse of banking or financial systems.
Suspensions should be relayed through digital platforms and via a text blast from telecommunication companies, Belaro added. The presidents of the Philippine Press Institute and Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas are also in the inter-agency team specified in the bill.
The solon is still in talks for a sponsor for the bill in the Senate.
