By Hilda Austria
MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – Several Pangasinan local government leaders have called upon their respective Department of Education (DepEd) district offices to implement alternative delivery modes (ADM) to assist students and educators in coping with the intensified heat exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon.
In a telephone interview on Tuesday, Mayor Kevin Roy Macanlalay of Calasiao town, who was the first to suspend face-to-face classes, stated that he instructed school principals to halt in-person classes if the heat index reaches the “danger” category (42 to 51 degrees Celsius) for the safety of both students and teachers.
It (face-to-face class suspension) will depend on the status of schools since not all schools in the town are faced with direct heat as some have trees and remain cool despite the high heat index. It will now be the decision of the principals,” he said.
Macanlalay asked school officials to prepare for the needs of the learners, such as drinking water and appliances to help maintain ventilation in classrooms, if ever they decide to hold face-to-face classes instead of ADM.
“We also advised the learners and teachers to wear loose or comfortable clothing and to stay hydrated,” he said.
Asingan town Mayor Carlos Lopez Jr., in a separate interview, said he had a consultation meeting with school officials and they have initially agreed to implement ADM until the weather becomes conducive for learning.
He said the decision to cancel face-to-face classes on Tuesday was due to the demand of parents who are worried for the welfare of their children.
Dagupan City Mayor Belen Fernandez, in her Facebook post, said school officials have the discretion to choose their mode of learning.
Schools in Dagupan will be on ADM until Thursday.
Face-to-face classes in Mangaldan, San Manuel, Sta. Barbara, and Mapandan towns, as well as in four schools in Sto. Tomas, were also suspended during the day.
Also, classes in 463 of the 661 schools in Pangasinan II-Schools District Office, which has jurisdiction over the first, second, and third districts, shifted to ADM as of 10:00 a.m. (PNA)
