The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday stressed the need to ensure the safety of learners and teachers as well as learning continuity post-tropical cyclone Pepito (international name: Man-yi).

DepEd Memorandum Order No. 64 series of 2024 signed by Secretary Sonny Angara, said school officials must provide reports of “displaced DepEd personnel and learners or any casualty” to local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (DRRMO).

“Schools are also instructed to activate their medical and DRRM teams, assess classroom and facility safety, and provide necessary interventions for affected individuals,” the DepEd said in a separate statement.

“The DepEd remains committed to prioritizing the safety and education of learners and educators in the face of disasters,” it added.

Unsafe spaces in schools must also be marked, alongside timely dissemination of safety protocols, according to the order.

Besides these, school officials were also ordered to ensure availability or access to psychological first aid in partnership with involved government agencies, as well as food, clean drinking water, and hygiene supplies for all affected staff and learners.

Moreover, continuous assessment must be tracked in schools through daily situation reports, which should be submitted by all regional and school division offices not later than 9 a.m., with updates from school DRRM’s Rapid Assessment of Damages Report.

The DepEd underscored the need to sustain continuity to prevent further learning loss.

“Field offices and schools are mandated to implement Alternative Delivery Modes using the most suitable learning delivery methods, including the Dynamic Learning Program (DLP),” it said.

The DLP refers to the flexible learning setup which includes make-up classes, catch-up sessions, activity-based engagements and reduced homework.

Assessments, however, must be made to ensure readiness among affected learners and teachers before the resumption of in-person classes in schools.

“If necessary, implement further localized temporary suspension of in-person classes to allow recovery from the effects of the hazard,” the memorandum read. (PNA)