Baguio City, Digos City suspend classes amid COVID-19 scare

Baguio City has suspended classes in all levels, both public and private, from March 13 to 22 to allow schools to disinfect their facilities and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The suspension aligns with President Duterte's proclamation of a state of public health emergency.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong stated the need to suspend classes after discussions with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to protect students and enable stringent disinfection measures.

Digos City Mayor Josef Cagas also declared the suspension of classes in all levels following the same state of public health emergency declaration.

Cagas ordered the suspension of classes from preschool up to tertiary levels, including postgraduate and technical and vocational schools in both private and public institutions.

He also canceled all school events and activities that draw huge crowds and any mass gathering, including graduation and moving up ceremonies.

Schools in Digos City are directed to observe distance learning methods or alternative learning mechanisms and to give home-based assignments to students to ensure continued learning.