Classes suspended in 19 schools due to Taal activity —Briones

Class suspension has been imposed on 19 schools that are affected by the activity of Taal Volcano in Batangas, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said.

During the Talk to the People aired Wednesday, Briones said these schools are located within the danger zones around the volcano.

“Mga 19 schools nag-suspend na tayo ng classes dahil ang primary (concern) natin ay protection of children (We have 19 schools that already suspended classes because our primary concern is the protection of children),” she said.

Based on DepEd data, 17 of these schools are in Agoncillo and two in Laurel.

Briones said the DepEd has been monitoring the safety of learners.

She noted that DepEd discourages using schools as evacuation centers. But in case of major disaster like the eruption of Taal, the department will allow the use of the facilities as temporary shelters.

“May schools tayong ginagawang (We have schools that are used as) evacuation centers like Agoncillo,” she said.

DepEd has been working with the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to provide assistance to children, including distribution of health kits, according to Briones.—AOL, GMA News