Iloilo City—Tropical cyclone wind signal no.1 hit parts of Iloilo, Aklan, Capiz, Antique, and Negros Occidental on Wednesday, prompting schools to cancel in-person classes and switch to alternative learning modes, with over 1.7 million learners affected.
According to the Department of Education (DepEd) Western Visayas, 4,057 schools in the region suspended classes personally but continued learning by means of the Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM).
The schools division of Iloilo reported the highest affected students, with a record 428,179 learners; Negros Occidental with 292,442 learners; Antique with 142,806 learners; and Aklan with 123,229 learners.
Other divisions that were also affected are Bacolod City with 112,321 learners and Iloilo City with 77,656. Guimaras, Roxas City, Silay City, and Escalante City also suspended classes, affecting thousands more students.
The DepEd Central Office issued an order directing regional offices to implement blended learning in times of calamity. The order reiterated that classes should push through using ADM and that classes should not be suspended without the special order of the concerned regional director because it will disrupt the continuity of education and put students and personnel in danger.
DepEd Western Visayas Regional Information Officer Hernani Escullar, Jr. said there has been no reported flooding in schools as of latest monitoring.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) of Illoilo declared a full Blue Alert Status in the province due to tropical storm ‘Kristine.’
Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Jr. summoned an emergency meeting for a Provincial Civil Defense Cluster on food, non-food items, hospitals, and other medical supplies to check their level of preparedness.
MDRRMOs were instructed to prepare all rescue assets and be prepared for possible rise of risks.
In the same manner, Ret. Col. Cornelio Salinas, head of PDRRMO, appealed to the public to follow evacuation procedures and other safety measures implemented by local disaster management offices.
In Iloilo City, Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, in the mayor’s absence, instructed the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (ICDRRMC) to report for pre-deployment.
The Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committees were tasked to implement preparation activities among members of the community in case a disaster strikes while furnishing the city’s emergency operations center with an update on the said undertaking.
