Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education

DepEd O R D E R
No. , s. 2022

GUIDELINES ON THE CANCELLATION OR SUSPENSION OF CLASSES

AND WORK IN SCHOOLS IN THE EVENT OF DISASTERS
AND OTHER NATURAL CALAMITIES

To: Undersecretaries
Assistant Secretaries
Minister, Basic, Higher, and Technical Education, BARMM
Bureau and Service Directors
Regional Directors
Schools Division Superintendents
Public and Private Elementary and Secondary School Heads
All Others Concerned

1. This policy promotes the safety and protection of learners and personnel from
unnecessary physical dangers that they may be exposed to during natural disasters
and calamities. This is to ensure that their constitutional rights to life, health, safety,
and property are always protected.

2. To minimize the health and safety risks brought about by disasters and other
natural calamities, the Department recognizes that the suspension of classes and
work during emergencies remain to be necessary in upholding the physical and
mental well-being of learners and school personnel.

3. The Department of Education (DepEd) issues the enclosed Guidelines on the

Cancellation or Suspension of Classes and Work in Schools in the Event of
Disasters and Other Natural Calamities to further guide schools, its personnel, and
learners, both within the public and private institutions.

4. This Order shall take effect immediately after its publication in the DepEd
website as well as its filing with the Office of the National Administrative Registrar
(ONAR) at the University of the Philippines (UP) Law Center, UP Diliman, Quezon
City.

5. For more information, please contact the Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Service, 2nd Floor, Mabini Building, Department of Education Central
Office, DepEd Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City through email at
drrmo@deped.gov.ph or at telefax number (02) 8637-4933.

6. Immediate dissemination of and strict compliance with this Order is directed.

SARA Z. DUTERTE
Vice President and Secretary

DepEd Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City 1600 8633-7208/8633-7228/8632-1361 8636-4876/8637-6209 www.deped.gov.ph
Encl.:
As stated

Reference:
DepEd Order No. 014, s. 2021

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index

under the following subjects:

CALAMITY
CLASSES
EMPLOYEES
LEARNERS
POLICY
RULES AND REGULATIONS
SCHOOLS
TEACHERS

SMMA/APA/MPC, DO Guidelines on the Cancellation or Suspension of Classes

0240 – September 1, 2022
(Enclosure to DepEd Order No. ________s.2022)

GUIDELINES ON THE CANCELLATION OR SUSPENSION OF CLASSES

AND WORK IN SCHOOLS IN THE EVENT OF DISASTERS
AND OTHER NATURAL CALAMITIES

I. RATIONALE

The Department of Education (DepEd) upholds the principle of promoting

the welfare, safety, and security of learners and personnel at all times.
Accordingly, in times of disasters and calamities, safeguarding the
learners and personnel from unnecessary physical dangers that they may
be exposed to, and protecting their constitutional rights to life, health,
safety, and property, remain to be department’s paramount consideration.

In line with the existing policies of the department in ensuring the safety
and security of our learners and school personnel, it recognizes the need
to suspend or cancel classes and work in schools during emergencies
brought about by natural disasters and calamities.

Thus, this Order is being issued to provide guidance on the suspension of

classes due to disasters or calamities to spare the pupils, students,
teaching and non-teaching personnel in schools from unnecessary
dangers to their lives and limbs.

II. SCOPE

The following guidelines shall be observed in all levels of governance within

the Department of Education (Central Office, Regional, Division, and
School) for all teaching and non-teaching personnel. This will also cover
the learners under the jurisdiction of the DepEd in the public schools.

Private schools and community learning centers, as well as state/local

universities and colleges (SUCs/LUCs) have the option to abide by the
provisions of this DO.

Provisions in previous DepEd issuances inconsistent with this Order and

its enclosure are hereby modified accordingly.

III. POLICY STATEMENT

1. The Department upholds the principle of promoting the welfare, safety,

and security of learners and personnel at all times, which remains the
DepEd’s paramount consideration.

2. This policy aims to protect the physical and psychosocial welfare of

learners, personnel, and their families by providing guidance on the
following:

a. suspension of classes and work in schools during times of calamities,

natural disasters and/or emergencies,
 b. interventions needed to address the impacts of disasters, and

c. the roles and responsibilities of all concerned.

IV. GUIDELINES ON THE CANCELLATION OR SUSPENSION OF CLASSES

AND WORK IN SCHOOLS

1. Typhoon

In-person and online classes in all levels are automatically cancelled in

schools situated in Local Government Units (LGUs) issued with Tropical
Cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS) 1, 2, 3 ,4 or 5 by the Philippine Atmospheric,
Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

If the TCWS is issued at a time when classes have already begun, the
school shall immediately suspend the classes and work and send everyone
home, if it is safe to do so. However, schools are obligated to keep the
students and personnel safely in school if travelling has become unsafe.

Local Chief Executives shall decide on the cancellation or suspension of

classes in cases where there are strong winds in specific or all areas of the
LGU but is not due to a typhoon.

2. Heavy Rainfall

In-person and online classes in all levels are automatically cancelled in

schools situated in LGUs issued with Yellow, Orange and Red Rainfall
Warning by the PAGASA.

If the Warning is issued at a time when classes have already begun, the
school shall immediately suspend the classes and work and send everyone
home, if it is safe to do so. However, schools are obligated to keep the
students and personnel safely in school if travelling has become unsafe.

Local Chief Executives shall decide on the cancellation or suspension of

classes in cases where there are torrential rains in specific or all areas of
the LGU but is not issued a Heavy Rainfall Alert by PAGASA.

3. Flood

In-person and online classes in all levels are automatically cancelled in

schools situated in LGUs issued with a Flood Warning by the PAGASA.

If the Flood Warning is issued at a time when classes have already begun,
the school shall immediately suspend the classes and work and send
everyone home, if it is safe to do so. However, schools are obligated to keep
the students and personnel safely in school if travelling has become
unsafe.
 Local Chief Executives shall decide on the cancellation or suspension of
classes in cases where there is flooding in specific or all areas of the LGU
but is not issued a Flood Warning by PAGASA.

4. Earthquakes

In-person and online classes in all levels are automatically cancelled in

schools situated in LGUs where the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and
Seismology (PHILVOCS) declare an earthquake with PHILVOCS
Earthquake Intensity Scale (PEIS) V or above.

Local Chief Executives shall decide on the cancellation or suspension of

classes in cases where the PEIS is IV and below.

School Principals can cancel classes at any Intensity Scale if in their

assessment, building and other structures are seen to be in danger of
collapsing or is found to have major damage.

The School Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Team Head
should clear the return of students and personnel in buildings and other
structures.

5. Adjustments to Learning Delivery Due to Suspensions/Cancellations

of Classes

In the event of cancelled or suspended classes, distance learning or make

up classes shall be implemented to ensure that learning competencies and
objectives are still met.

In adherence to the provision of DepEd Order No. 14, s. 2021, learners

who miss learning activities due to class suspensions brought about by
various disruptions like disasters and/or emergencies due to natural or
human-induced hazards shall be accorded due consideration in the
completion of their learning tasks.

6. Maintenance of Workforce and Activation of DRRM Teams

Teaching school personnel, including ALS teachers, and non-teaching

school personnel in schools, Division Offices, Regional Offices, and the
Central Office, shall not be required to report to work, except those who
are mandated to render security, safety, finance, engineering, sanitation,
health, and disaster response duties.

Schools, on the other hand, must always be ready to implement remote

work with measured output.

Central, Regional, and Schools Division Offices, and schools shall activate
their DRRM Teams to prepare, monitor, and respond to the situation.
DRRM Team members, particularly DRRM Coordinators and Engineers,
shall be required to report to work in the aftermath of the disaster to
 continue undertaking response, early recovery, and reporting based on
established DRRM protocols (e.g., an inspection of school facilities to vet
damages as reported by School DRRM Coordinators, detailed assessment
of damaged facilities for purposes of developing the Program of Works for
infrastructure costing in rehabilitation and recovery plans, and
participation in coordination meetings with LDRRMCs). Other DRRM Team
members may likewise be required to report to work, as needed.

Officials of private schools shall exercise discretion relative to the work

arrangement of their DRRM personnel.

7. Use of schools as Evacuation Center or COVID-19 Quarantine and/or

Isolation Facility/Vaccination Center

Schools shall not be used as quarantine and/ or isolation facilities or

vaccination centers. The authority given to Regional Directors in allowing
schools to be designated as quarantine and/or isolation facilities/
vaccination centers under Office Memorandum OM-Osec-2020-004
(Guidance to Regional Directors for Action Requests by Local Government
Units to Use DepEd Schools and Engage DepEd Personnel in Activities
Related to COVID-19), is hereby lifted. Office Memorandum OM-OSEC-
2021-03-003 (Use of DepEd Classrooms and Other Facilities as Vaccination
Centers) is likewise hereby repealed.

In cases of other disasters, schools may be used as an immediate

evacuation site which should not last for more than fifteen days. LGUs
should not use schools as long-term shelters for evacuees.

8. Conduct of Psychological First Aid

As the maintenance of a conducive learning environment requires

addressing the immediate needs of affected learners and personnel in the
aftermath of disasters, all Schools Division Offices, with the support of
Regional Offices, shall assess Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
needs and services, and lead the conduct of Psychological First Aid (PFA).
This shall include the mobilization of trained PFA providers and partners,
and if needed, referral pathways for learners and personnel identified for
further specialized psychological support services. Required health
standards shall be always applied.

9. Responsibility of Parents or Guardians

The DepEd still maintains that parents or guardians have the ultimate
responsibility for determining whether their children should attend classes
in consideration of their physical and/or mental health during disaster
and calamities. This applies even if no order for cancellation or suspension
of classes has been issued.

However, it is the also the responsibility of the parents or guardians to

ensure that their child is able to catch up with the needed competencies
that the learners should master.
V. MONITORING AND EVALUATION

The Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS), in

coordination with relevant DepEd Central (CO) offices and affected regions
and divisions, shall continue leading the implementation of existing
mechanisms for monitoring, reporting, and responding to the impacts of
disasters on DepEd offices and schools. This includes the suspension of
classes and work, the activation of DRRM Teams, and the delivery of PFA.

As part of the response operations during and in the aftermath of a disaster

and/or emergency, the DRRMS monitors the suspension and resumption
of classes which is being reported by the affected division offices. The
reports on class suspension and resumption form part of the situation
report and education cluster updates that the DRRMS submits to the
DepEd Executive Committee, Management Committee, affected field
offices, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(NDRRMC) and partners.

The Bureau of Learning Delivery under the Curriculum and Instruction

Strand shall continue leading the monitoring, reporting, and response to
needed adjustments to learning delivery strategies due to suspensions.

VI. REPEALING CLAUSE

All DepEd orders, memoranda, and other related issuances, rules,

regulations, and provisions, which are inconsistent with these guidelines
are repealed, rescinded, or modified accordingly.

VII. EFFECTIVITY

This order shall take effect immediately after its publication on the DepEd
website as well as its filing with the Office of the National Administrative
Registrar (ONAR) at the University of the Philippines (UP) Law Center, UP
Diliman, Quezon City.