Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones instructed all public and private schools nationwide to prioritize the safety and well-being of learners as the rainy season started already.

Heavy rains have been pouring thus the Department of Education (DepEd) issued reminders so the concerned people can prepare in any eventuality.

Briones, in a statement recently, said the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Service at DepEd’s Central Office, DRRM units at the Regional and School Division Offices and the school heads and DRRM coordinators should lead the preparation and implementation of precautionary measures to mitigate the impacts of the rainy season.

“Classes in affected areas are automatically suspended based on PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) declaration of storm signals, while local government units — not DepEd — decide on and announce class suspensions within their areas of jurisdiction during calamities in the absence of storm signal,” she said.

In the absence of announcement of class cancellation, Briones said parents of school children should exercise their discretion to determine if they would allow their children to attend school.

Some classes in areas in Metro Manila and nearby provinces have been ordered suspended since Monday due to inclement weather brought about by tropical storm “Domeng” and the southwest monsoon or hanging habagat.

The start of the rainy season has been declared by weather bureau Pagasa last Friday.

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