To: Regional Directors
Schools Superintendents
Presidents, State Colleges, Colleges/Administrators
Heads of Private Schools, Colleges and Universities
Vocational School Superintendents/Administrators

1. The revised guidelines on the suspension of classes in cases of typhoons and other calamities are hereby issued for the information of all concerned.
   1. Automatic Suspension of Classes
      The automatic suspension of classes shall apply only to the following situations:
      (1) Where typhoon signal No. 3 is raised by PAGASA, classes in all levels (elementary, secondary, and collegiate levels) shall automatically suspend.
      (2) Where typhoon signal No. 2 is raised by PAGASA, classes at the elementary and secondary levels shall be automatically suspended.
      (3) Where the rains are heavy causing floods in the community and in the area of the school, classes in the schools affected are automatically suspended.
      (4) Where other calamities such as volcanic eruption, and earthquake have occurred and have seriously damaged the homes of families in the community and probable recurrence of such calamities is declared by proper authorities, classes are automatically suspended.
   2. Suspension of Classes by School Officials
      (1) Announcement by the Regional Director – As a matter of policy, the suspension, cancellation and/or postponement of classes in a particular region, division or district shall be announced by the Regional Director.
      (2) Announcement by the School Heads – In cases where there is an existence of conditions that endanger the lives and safety of pupils, students, teachers and other school personnel such as transportation strikes, military armed action, or invasion by rebels or armed groups and other forms of emergencies, school heads in affected areas may use their discretion in suspending classes. School heads are enjoined to use their best judgment in this regard.
   3. Lifting of Suspension of Classes shall be made by the following:
      (1) Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports where suspension of classes is nationwide;
      (2) Regional Director where the suspension of classes is in some schools or divisions in the Region or the entire Region; and,
      (3) School heads where suspension of classes is in a particular school or schools.
      Lifting of suspension of classes should be made on or before but not later than 6:00am on the day when regular classes are to be resumed. All media and other ways of communicating the resumption of classes to the public will be utilized.
2. The organization of the DECS Disaster Coordinating Committee (DECS-DCC) in the Central Office as well as in the regional offices will be made as soon as possible but not later than April 30, 1990. For this purpose, the school officials and staff to compose the DECS-DCC in the Central Office and in the regional offices are indicated in enclosure No. 1.
3. Procedures for declaring suspension of classes which shall be followed by the DCC’s are indicated in Enclosure No. 2.
4. All previous orders and regulation including MECS Order No. 43, s. 1986 and DECCS Order No. 53, s. 1988 are superseded by this Order.
5. Widest dissemination of this Order is enjoined.

(SGD.) ISIDRO D. CARINO
Secretary

Incls.: As stated
Reference: MECS Order: (No. 43, s. 1986)
DECS Order: (No. 53, s. 1988)
Allotment: 1-2-3-4—(M.O. 1-87)

To be indicated in the perpetual index under the following subjects:
CALAMITY
CLASSES
POLICY
PUPILS
RULES & REGULATIONS
SCHOOLS
STUDENTS
TEACHERS

DO_s1990_032