ILOILO CITY — The Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division of Antique is planning to extend daily class hours by 30 minutes to an hour to help students catch up on lessons missed during the suspension of classes caused by Typhoons Tino and Uwan.

Dr. Edward Baña, chief of the DepEd Antique Curriculum and Teaching Division, said schools are set to craft their own strategies to make the most of the extended hours and ensure that all subjects are covered within the adjusted schedule.

“The extension is designed to complement alternative learning modes such as modular and online classes,” Baña explained, noting that 90 percent of teachers have already distributed self-learning modules to allow students to continue studying despite the suspension.

Classes were suspended on Monday and Tuesday in 538 schools across 18 municipalities, affecting 130,879 students, following Memorandum Circular No. 106 issued by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

Meanwhile, seven schools are still being used as evacuation centers, housing displaced families in 29 classrooms.

Baña assured that DepEd Antique is coordinating closely with local school heads to balance the academic catch-up plan with the continued use of school facilities for evacuees.

“This is not just about making up for lost time—it’s about ensuring that learning continuity remains possible even after disasters,” he said.