PNoy signs EO 66, new rules for the suspension of classes and work during natural disasters

By Angel Cuala on Jan 12, 2012 in Announcement, Asia, Education • No comments

Manila, Philippines – President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III (PNoy) recently signed Executive Order 66 (EO 66), which is about the new rules for the suspension of classes and work during natural disasters such as typhoon.

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Image Credit: Philippine government Twitter

As noted on local news sites on Thursday, January 12, 2012, PNoy approved the EO 66 on Monday, January 9, which aims to simplify the procedures in the suspension of classes and government work to avoid confusion.

Apparently, EO 66 was issued to align with the announcement of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and the Department of Education (Deped) when a storm arrives.

According to Section 1 of EO 66, there are new guidelines for the automatic cancellation or suspension of classes in all public and private elementary, secondary and tertiary schools, as well as work in all government offices, which are listed below.

a. When Signal No. 1 is raised by PAGASA, classes at the pre-school level, in the affected area, shall be automatically cancelled or suspended.

b. When Signal No. 2 is raised by PAGASA, classes at the pre-school, elementary and secondary levels, in the affected area, shall be automatically cancelled or suspended,

c. When Signal No. 3 or higher is raised by PAGASA, classes at pre-school, elementary, secondary, and tertiary levels, in the affected area, including graduate school, as well as work in all government offices, shall be automatically cancelled or suspended.

In addition, PAGASA shall issue weather forecasts through various media outlets (radio and television), and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), not later than 10:00 p.m. of the previous day and 4:30 a.m. of the day of the cancellation of classes and work is being intended.

For cases where there are classes and work in the morning and suspension of classes and work is only effective in the afternoon, PAGASA is being instructed to issue the weather forecast not later than 11:00 a.m. of the said day.

Nevertheless, in cases when PAGASA does not issue Public Storm signal warnings, localized cancellation or suspension of classes and work in government offices may be imposed by local chief executives, as chairmen of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (LDRRMC) concerned, in coordination with PAGASA and the NDRRMC, particularly in flood-prone or high risk areas.

The full context of the Executive Order 66 (EO 66) is posted at the official website of the Philippine government (www.gov.ph), in which a link to the post was shared by its official Twitter account (@govph).