DepEd Reschedules Metro Manila Graduations Amid Community Quarantine; Duterte Suspends Classes Until April 12; Tacloban Declares Class Suspension; No Confirmed Cases in Soccsksargen; Año Advises Commuters to Wear Masks and Use Hand Sanitizers

The Department of Education (DepEd) has announced that graduation ceremonies for students in Metro Manila will be rescheduled due to the community quarantine measures implemented because of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Schools outside the National Capital Region and other areas which did not implement class suspensions may still hold end-of-school year rites within April 13 to 17, 2020. President Rodrigo Duterte has also suspended classes in all levels and government work in the executive branch for one month or until April 12, as a measure to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

In Tacloban City, Mayor Alfred Romualdez declared a week-long class suspension from March 13 to 20 amid the virus threat. The closure of campuses may be extended depending on the situation. Meanwhile, in Region XII (Soccsksargen), there are currently no confirmed cases of coronavirus disease but at least 18 persons under monitoring for the disease are undergoing mandatory home quarantine.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año advised commuters to wear face masks and use hand sanitizers as preventive measures against the virus. He also suggested that local government units should implement special precautionary measures if necessary.