DepEd told to pilot test proposal on new class opening

SENATOR Francis Pangilinan asked the Department of Education (DepEd) to go slow on deciding whether to move the opening of classes to September, saying a pilot test should be made to check the viability of the proposal.

Quoting reports from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the senator said the strongest and most destructive storms are now taking place in the so-called “ber” months (September to December).

“Sendong happened in December, while Ondoy happened in September. If we move classes to September, aren't we jumping from the pan into the fire?” he asked.

Tropical Storm Sendong triggered massive flashfloods in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan that killed over 1,200 people a week before Christmas last year, while Ondoy submerged parts of Metro Manila and neighboring suburbs in September 2009.

Pangilinan, a former chairman of the committee on education, also cautioned the DepEd that the general welfare of students in the country might be compromised more should the opening of classes be moved from June to September.

“What do we prefer our children avoid, several days of typhoon weather a month during the typhoon season or unbearable heat everyday for two months? Will we be sparing our children from coughs and colds brought about by exposure to the rains only to have them suffer heat stroke and severe dehydration due to daily exposure to the summer heat?” he said.

Calls for the new date of school opening surfaced again last week after students in Metro Manila and Southern Luzon were caught in heavy rains spawned by a low pressure area west of the capital.

Senator Franklin Drilon, an official of the Liberal Party of which Pangilinan is also a member, filed Senate Bill 2407 two years ago that aims to move the opening of classes from June to September to prevent class disruptions as a result of the rainy season. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)