QUEZON CITY AUTHORIZING PUNONG BARANGAYS TO CANCEL OR SUSPEND CLASSES IN ABSENCE OF A TYPHOON SIGNAL

In response to the urgent need to coordinate efforts in the localized suspension of classes, the Quezon City Government is taking steps to address this concern. Acting Mayor Ma. Josefina G. Belmonte issued a Memorandum dated July 04, 2012 authorizing Punong Barangays to cancel or suspend classes in case of flooding and other weather disturbances in their localities in absence of a typhoon signal.

The said Memorandum explicitly provides that, “The Punong Barangay as Chairman of the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (BDRRMC), in close coordination with the School Head (SH), is authorized to cancel or suspend classes not later than 4:00 AM for morning classes and 10:00 AM for the afternoon classes” after their final assessment of the situation in those affected areas at 3:00 AM and 9:00 AM respectively.

No cancellation or suspension of classes shall be made later than the prescribed time stated herein. However, if there are justifiable grounds which requires suspension or cancellation beyond the prescribed time (4:00 AM and 10:00 AM), no student shall be allowed to leave the school premises unless personally fetched by their respective parent or legal guardians.

Afterwards, the BDRRMC shall include the following information in the report: assessment of the situation status in their respective areas; exact time of the cancellation or suspension and the school/s covered by the cancellation.

The BDRRMC shall immediately disseminate within their Barangay the cancellation of classes through the Barangay Public Address System (BPAS), Barangay Emergency Response Team (BERT) or other existing facilities and resources which can be utilized for proper dissemination of the cancellation or suspension of classes.