THE Department of Education (DepEd) has clarified that schools may suspend both in-person and online classes once the local temperature reaches 42 degrees Celsius, provided proper coordination is made with the concerned local government unit (LGU).
The new guidance comes as the country braces for intense heat brought by the El Niño phenomenon, which is forecast to strengthen into a “super” phase later this year and bring record-breaking temperatures across the Philippines.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized that school officials must formally notify local authorities before implementing suspensions. “They should just notify the LGU — that is required as part of coordination, so that the mayor or governor would not be surprised that the children are being sent home,” Angara explained during a visit to Lakan Dula High School in Tondo, Manila.
Issued as Memorandum No. 64 s. 2026, the updated framework replaces the previous practice of issuing blanket nationwide suspensions triggered by extreme heat. Instead, the policy shifts to a localized, data-driven approach that empowers individual school heads to make decisions based on actual conditions inside classrooms. Temperature and humidity readings are to be taken at three key times daily — 8:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, and 2:00 p.m. — ensuring that adjustments are responsive to the specific environment experienced by students and teachers rather than broad regional forecasts.
The move reflects DepEd’s balanced approach to protecting student welfare while minimizing unnecessary disruptions to learning.
By centering decisions on on-site measurements and requiring advance coordination with LGUs, the system aims to prevent confusion, maintain alignment with local disaster response efforts, and ensure that any shift to remote or asynchronous learning is implemented smoothly. As El Niño continues to intensify, the department has urged all schools to prepare monitoring tools, improve ventilation, and communicate regularly with parents to keep them informed of changes in class schedules or delivery modes.
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