The Department of Education (DepEd) said Sunday it will leave it to local governments to decide whether to suspend classes to cope with a nationwide transport strike that begins today, while the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said it will suspend the number-coding scheme.
The transport group Piston (Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide) said its 100,000 members would push through with the strike to dramatize its objection to the government’s Dec. 31 deadline for jeepney operators and drivers to consolidate as part of the the public utility vehicle modernization program.
In a statement, however, the DepEd said unless local government units announce the cancellation or suspension in their respective jurisdictions, schools will hold classes without disruption.
Classes in some areas have been suspended or will shift to online on Monday, Nov. 20 following the magnitude 6.8 quake in Davao Occidental and a nationwide transport strike set by some operators and drivers of jeepneys.
Local government units:
Camalig, Albay—All levels, public and private
Cabuyao, Laguna—Face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private, to shift to online classes
Calamba, Laguna—Face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private schools to shift to modular or online classes
Pampanga—Suspension of in-person classes in all levels, public and private
General Santos City—Suspension of classes at all levels, public and private, from Nov. 18 to 21; work suspension in government on Nov. 20
Davao Occidental—Province-wide suspension of classes, all levels, and work suspension in schools from Nov. 20–21
Universities:
Adamson University: Synchronous online classes will be conducted in all levels
Arellano University: Online classes via LMS will be conducted in all levels and branches from Nov. 20–22
Ateneo de Manila University: Undergraduate and graduate classes in the Schools of Education and Learning Design, Humanities, Management, Science and Engineering, and Social Sciences will be held online from Nov. 20 to 23. However, onsite classes will resume as soon as the strike ends.
De La Salle University-Manila campus: Classes in all levels, including non-critical work, will shift to online from Nov. 20 to 22
De La Salle University-Laguna: In-person classes in all levels from preschool to college, including non-critical work, will shift to online from Nov. 20 to 22.
Far Eastern University-Manila and Makati: Online classes will be conducted
FEU High School: Synchronous online classes will be conducted
Mapua University: Synchronous online classes will be conducted for all levels
Miriam College-Loyola Heights: Basic Education Unit, Skills Development and Technical Education Center, and Higher Education Unit will shift to online classes from Nov. 20 to 21
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila: Classes will shift to synchronous online classes from Nov. 20 to 22
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina: All classes will shift to asynchronous mode from Nov. 20 to 22
Polytechnic University of the Philippines: All campuses will shift to online mode of classes from Nov. 20 to 22
University of the East-Manila and Caloocan Campus: Classes in all levels will shift to online synchronous from Nov. 20 and 21
University of the Philippines-Diliman: Classes will shift to remote or asynchronous learning modes from Nov. 20 to 22
University of the Philippines Integrated School: Classes will shift to synchronous or asynchronous mode from Nov. 20–22
University of the Philippines-Manila: Classes will shift to synchronous and/or asynchronous mode on Nov. 20
University of the Philippines-Los Baños: Classes shall be delivered via remote or asynchronous mode on Nov. 20
University of Santo Tomas: Classes and office work will shift to the “enriched virtual mode” and remote arrangements on Nov. 20
No number coding
The number coding in Metro Manila will be suspended except in Makati, the MMDA said.
MMDA Chairman Don Artes said the suspension is in anticipation of some transport routes being affected by the strike.
However, Artes said they will evaluate the need for further suspension of the number coding on a daily basis.
At the same time, he advised the public to stay at home if going out is not important or going out can be postponed.
He told the commuters to brace for heavier traffic.
Piston president Mody Floranda said they are not against consolidation as long as the government would assure them that they would still own their franchise under the modernization program.
Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman Teofilo Guadiz III said he would personally monitor the transport strike today on the eastbound lanes of Commonwealth Avenue near the University of the Philippines and Philcoa near Shell as early as 5:30 a.m.
The LTFRB identified routes that may be affected by today’s strike — Novaliches-Malinta along General Luis, Shelter Ville-Novaliches, Bagumbong-Novaliches, Deparo-Novaliches, Paco-Sta. Mesa, Monumento Area Catmon, Alabang Area, Baclaran, A. Francisco St.-San Andres Bukid and NIA-NPC to Mindanao Avenue.
Guadiz said the government is fully prepared to deal with the strike, with free rides to be offered to stranded commuters.
The Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP), another major transport alliance, announced Sunday that it will not join the Piston-led strike.
In an interview with radio dzBB, FEJODAP national president Jephraim Gochangco said they would not join the strike out of concern for commuters, who will be most affected by the protest action.
He apologized to their colleagues and said he sympathized with their grievances, but said their first concern was for the commuters.