DILG-NCR to meet with education, local execs over class suspension

The Department of Interior and Local Government will meet with Department of Education and local officials in Metro Manila Monday to fine-tune coordination system on the suspension of classes under bad weather conditions. DILG Metro Manila director Renato Brion said Sunday they will also encourage schools and city governments to set up social networking accounts such as Twitter to facilitate announcements on whether classes are suspended for the day. “Mag-uugnay ang DILG at DepEd and local officials so may total coordination by that time. Ang guidance, assessment, decision at announcement ay ipapaliwanag, bibigyan sila ng pagsasanay at patuloy ng paggabay," Brion said in an interview on dzBB radio. He also said barangays (villages) will have a role to play, as they will dispatch spotters who will check the weather condition in their respective areas. They will coordinate with principals and parents via social networking services like Facebook and Twitter. “Gagalaw ang ating city directors para buuin ang higit na pakikipagugnayan ng punong barangay (We expect our city directors to facilitate this coordination),” he said. The need for schools and local governments to coordinate on class suspensions became apparent in Metro Manila last Tuesday when heavy rain from a developing cyclone (a low-pressure area) passing through Luzon flooded many areas in Metro Manila. Many local officials did not announce the suspension of classes on time, prompting criticism from several parents. For its part, Malacañang reminded local officials to announce any morning class suspension by 4:30 a.m. While classes are automatically suspended when there are storm signals, it is up to local officials to decide whether classes are suspended if there are no storm signals. — LBG, GMA News