A ranking official of the Quezon City government wants the Department of Education to regain the power to declare class suspensions.
In a television interview at the height of the downpour due to Tropical Depression “Henry,” QC City Administrator Aldrin Cuña said it would be best if the function to declare the suspension of classes is given back to DepEd.
He said the city government suspended classes only in the afternoon of July 17—despite pleas from parents and students alike to do so earlier—since there was no advisory from the weather bureau of heavy rainfall due to “Henry” or the southwest monsoon or “habagat.”
As the Department of the Interior and Local Government is concerned, Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III has called on local officials to pass their own ordinances on class suspensions to ensure the safety of students from rains and floods.
Under the presidential Executive Order 66, a local government unit must announce a class suspension before 4:30 a.m. for morning sessions and before 11 a.m. for afternoon sessions.
A local measure could mandate officials to cancel classes based on rainfall warnings by the state weather bureau in the absence of storm signals, Densing noted.
Meanwhile, Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte and a subsidiary of Ayala Corp. have partnered to provide mothers with a basic life support training program.
Belmonte announced a partnership with Ayala Healthcare Holdings Inc. (AC Health) to empower women and mothers on disaster and emergency response.
She said some mothers approached her after Super Typhoon “Ondoy” that devastated many parts of the country in 2009 and lamented about their lack of preparedness for emergency situations, such as earthquakes and floods.
“That is the basis of my advocacy to beef up the capability of the women [sector],” the vice mayor said.
“Through this training [program] on basic life support and first aid, we can help them learn more things and boost their confidence,” she added.
The Office of the Vice Mayor has conducted the workshop entitled “Lifesaving Moms” attended by 300 mothers from Districts 1, 3 and 4.
“Mothers can now easily respond to emergency situations even at home,” Belmonte said.
She warned the participants that despite going through the training program, they still could not act as doctors of their family members.