QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte issued updated localized guidelines for class suspensions in response to inclement weather, extreme heat, earthquakes, and poor air quality.

According to Belmonte, these protocols were aligned with the Department of Education (DepEd) Order 022, Series of 2024, outlined in the city’s Memorandum Circular 3, Series of 2025.

This was designed to provide clear, data-driven measures to protect students while ensuring learning continuity.

“Our decisions will always be guided by data and evidence. Class suspensions will be announced based on real-time information from our weather and monitoring systems,” Belmonte stressed.

Under the updated guidelines, class suspensions due to tropical cyclones will follow the Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) levels issued by PAGASA.

During TCWS No. 1, classes in public Child Development Centers and Kindergarten will be automatically suspended.

If TCWS No. 2 is issued, the suspension will extend to public Child Development Centers, Kindergarten, and Grades 1 to 10.

Once TCWS No. 3 is declared, all public and private schools at all levels will be suspended.

Additionally, classes in public Child Development Centers, Kindergarten, Grades 1 to 12, and the Alternative Learning System (ALS) will be suspended during Orange and Red Rainfall Warnings.

In times when PAGASA has not issued weather-related warnings, the QC Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (QCDRRMC) may still declare localized class suspensions for specific public schools when necessary.

Class suspension or announcements may be issued at any time depending on advisories from national government agencies and local assessments.

Typically, announcements will be made no later than 4 a.m. on the day of suspension.

In cases of sudden, extreme weather changes, suspensions will be declared no later than 10 a.m.

For further updates, the public is encouraged to monitor official announcements from the Quezon City Government and QCDRRMC.

For extreme heat conditions, public school classes in Child Development Centers, Kindergarten, Grades 1 to 12, and ALS will be suspended if the iRISE UP system forecasts a heat index of 42°C or higher. If the forecast is between 40°C and 41°C, limited face-to-face classes with shortened hours and alternative learning modes will be implemented.

Higher education institutions and private schools will have the discretion to decide on class suspensions due to extreme heat. Announcements are generally made at 5:30 p.m. the day before.

In the event of an earthquake with an Intensity VI or higher, all public school classes, including ALS, will be suspended. For Intensity V and below, the QCDRRMC or individual public schools may declare localized suspensions after conducting inspections of school facilities.

The memorandum also provides protocols for class suspensions due to poor air quality, as shown in the 40 air quality monitoring sensors across the city. Public school classes from Child Development Centers to Grade 12 and ALS will be automatically suspended when the Quezon City Air Quality Monitoring Network reaches Alert Level 3, which occurs when 50 percent or more monitoring sites register air quality at Very Unhealthy, Acutely Unhealthy, or Emergency Levels.

Classes at the same levels will also be suspended at Alert Level 4 when 25 percent or more monitoring sites register an Emergency Level Air Quality Index (AQI). Additionally, if the DENR-EMB reports an AQI Emergency Level, where PM 2.5 levels reach 91 µg/m³ (micrograms per cubic meter), all public and private schools at all levels will be suspended.

To minimize disruptions to learning, schools are to implement alternative learning methods such as online, modular, limited face-to-face or blended instruction during face-to-face class suspensions. If necessary, make-up classes may also be scheduled to compensate for missed instructional hours.

“The safety and well-being of our students remain our top priority, but we are also committed to ensuring that their education continues uninterrupted. We will explore all available options to maintain learning continuity despite these challenges.”

AUTHOR PROFILE

Joel dela Torre