Classes resumed at Malued Elementary School in Dagupan City on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, after several days of suspension due to recent storms.

Despite the reopening, only 12 of the 30 students in Teacher Judy Ann Cerezo’s Grade 1 class were able to attend.

“’Yung iba, baha pa kasi sa bahay nila kaya hindi sila nakapasok sa school. Pero nagbigay ako ng activities na puwede nilang gawin sa bahay,” Cerezo said.

The school reported that attendance across all levels was only at about 70 percent. However, officials expect more students to return in the coming days.

“Sana tuloy ang magandang panahon para makahabol sa lessons. We see to it na the teachers are academically available para sa learning gaps at sa mga araw na nawala,” Shelamie Ayala, officer-in-charge of Malued Elementary School, said.

The Department of Education Regional Office 1 assured that learning continues even in areas affected by flooding and class suspensions.

“Modular learning modality. At ‘yung iba ay blended learning modality. Ito ay combination ng modular at online learning,” Cesar Bucsit, public affairs unit head of DepEd-1, said.

To help students catch up, Teacher Cerezo extended class hours by 30 minutes to one hour daily.

Meanwhile, some families remain at the school’s evacuation center, including the family of Jayson Soriano, who said they cannot return home yet because of high floodwaters.

“Nabigla kami, walang ulan at tumataas ‘yung tubig,” Soriano said.

Other classrooms previously used by evacuees are now being cleaned and prepared for regular use as displaced families return home gradually.