By John Rey Saavedra
CEBU CITY – Face-to-face classes, spanning from kindergarten to senior high school, have been halted in seven local government units (LGUs) across Metro Cebu due to the extreme heat.
Talisay City Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas was the first to announce on Tuesday night the suspension of face-to-face classes from April 3 to 14, transitioning instead to a modular setup to ensure the safety and well-being of teachers and students.
However, Gullas said students scheduled to take the National Achievement Test and Early Language Literacy and Numeracy Assessment must report for in-person classes.
“I am entrusting the decision to the respective school administrators if they intend to adopt modular classes),” Gullas said in their local tongue.
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan also posted his advisory on social media, telling students to stay home to avoid catching heat stroke and other weather-related diseases.
Other LGUs that canceled face-to-face classes were the towns of Minglanilla, Liloan, Cordova, and Consolacion, and the city of Naga.
The mayors reminded students and parents that suspending classroom classes was meant to safeguard the children from the ill effects of extreme weather conditions.
“Sa mga parents, palihug atong bantayan ang atong mga anak nga ilang igahin ang ilang oras sa ilang modular lessons o exams (To the parents, please watch our children so that they spend their time in their modular lessons or exams),” Chan said.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Mactan Station recorded a heat index of 36 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, with a forecast of 37 to 38 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.
In an advisory on Monday, PAGASA Mactan meteorologist Jhomer Eclarino warned the public that Cebu’s weather this coming months may reach to “dangerous” level with a heat index ranging from 42 to 51 degrees Celsius. (PNA)
