BAGUIO CITY — Student groups in Baguio City have raised concerns over delayed class suspensions for higher education institutions following more than four consecutive days of heavy rainfall brought by weather disturbances Luis and Maymay, saying student safety should be prioritized.

The National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) Cordillera said class suspensions were promptly announced for basic education and senior high school students, while college students were left navigating hazardous travel conditions or stranded on campuses because of delayed announcements.

While existing policies rely on tropical cyclone wind signals and official rainfall warnings, student representatives said guidelines should also consider actual local weather conditions and the safety realities faced by student commuters.

At the University of the Philippines Baguio, a sensing form conducted by the University Student Council showed that 183 students were unable to return to the city due to the weather. This followed an earlier incident in which hundreds of faculty members, staff and students were stranded on campus after class suspensions were announced late.

Similarly, ongoing enrollment activities at Saint Louis University required students to spend additional time, money and effort traveling amid severe weather conditions.

NUSP Cordillera called on the Baguio City government, university administrators and other concerned authorities to adopt more proactive decisions on class suspensions to prevent students from being unnecessarily exposed to danger.

The group also urged tertiary institutions to adopt pro-student and flexible learning modalities during periods of heavy rainfall, saying the welfare of their constituents should remain the highest priority.

On 7 August, Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong issued an executive order suspending college-level classes in the afternoon.

The City Government of Baguio also announced the closure of all city parks on 8 August as a precautionary measure to ensure public safety and allow clearing operations to proceed safely.

Authorities advised the public to exercise caution and call 911 in case of emergencies.