Marcos to study Remulla proposal on class suspension authority

Metro Manila, Philippines - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is open to studying a proposal from Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla to grant his department the authority to suspend classes during storms and other natural calamities, Malacañang said Wednesday.

While there is no official response yet from the president, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the proposal will be carefully reviewed

“Sa ngayon po ay wala pa pong opisyal na sagot ang ating pangulo patungkol sa suggestion po ni Secretary Jonvic Remulla,” said Castro in a Palace briefing.

[Translation: As of now, there is no official response from the president regarding Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s suggestion.]

“Pero ito po ay pag-aaralan dahil kung ito naman po ay makakabuti sa mas nakararami, magbibigay ng maaaring tugon ang pangulo patungkol diyan,” she said.

[Translation: But this will be studied, and if it proves beneficial to the greater number, the president will respond accordingly.]

Remulla, a former Cavite governor, has said he plans to ask for standby authority to declare class suspensions early during tropical cyclones, citing his hands-on experience in disaster management.

“Hindi ko alam kung ibibigay sa akin, pero hinihiling ko,” he said.

[Translation: I don’t know if it will be granted to me, but I asked for it.]

He said centralizing this authority under the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) would improve coordination between national and local agencies, especially in emergencies such as flooding and typhoons.

The authority to suspend classes lies mainly with local chief executives as well as the Department of Education, depending on the nature and severity of the situation.

Castro said this is the system for now.