It aims to prepare schools for an anticipated “strong to very strong” El Niño event that will start this year until the middle of 2027.
Through Memorandum No. 64, s. 2026, the Department of Education (DepEd) has issued comprehensive guidelines during the upcoming El Niño season.
The said directive, which is based on a formal forecast by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) regarding the phenomenon that is seen to last until mid-2027.
The memorandum outlines proactive measures aimed at ensuring a safe school environment, safeguarding the health of students and teachers, and guaranteeing the continuity of learning during the drought.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara noted: “We cannot afford to wait until extreme heat hits before we act. Our plan this year is proactive, deliberate, and organized.”
“We are making sure our schools are fully prepared to manage heat stress, water shortages, and health risks, protecting the safety and well-being of our learners and personnel without unnecessarily sacrificing precious classroom time,” he added.
Given PAGASA’s forecast that the dry spell will reach its peak before the end of the year, the DepEd is shifting its approach—moving away from the previous practice of sudden class suspensions toward a system of organized, early preparation.
Under this new directive, a nationwide suspension of classes will no longer be automatically triggered solely by extreme heat. Instead, school heads will utilize a practical framework based on localized decision-making, which involves monitoring temperature and humidity levels inside classrooms daily at 8:00 am, 12:00 pm, and 2:00 pm.
Following the 4H framework, schools categorized under the “Hayo” level—where the heat index remains below 27°C—will continue with regular face-to-face classes, supplemented by scheduled hydration breaks.
When the heat reaches the “Hinay” (caution) level, with temperatures ranging from 27°C to 32°C, school heads may opt to shorten class hours or transition to hybrid and flexible home-based schedules.
Should the heat level rise to the “Hinga” (extreme caution) stage, which is between 33°C and 41°C, in-person classes will be suspended, and students will shift to lighter home-based tasks, with their health being closely monitored.
Under the “Hinto” (danger) level, where the heat reaches or exceeds 42°C, all academic and school-related activities—whether at school or at home—are to be completely suspended to ensure the safety and security of everyone.
The directive also includes health and facility-related safeguards for public schools.
Thus, to ensure the comfort of teachers and students during hot days, they are permitted to wear lightweight, breathable alternative uniforms—or previously issued DepEd collared shirts—provided that their attire remains neat and appropriate.
Schools are also directed to ensure a water supply, install safe drinking water stations, and utilize emergency procurement procedures if the purchase of water filtration kits becomes necessary.
Meanwhile, to protect vulnerable students, alternative supply arrangements will be implemented to ensure that the School-Based Feeding Program remains uninterrupted.
Concurrently, electrical lines must be inspected, and dry vegetation within school grounds cleared in compliance with the Fire Code of the Philippines; furthermore, the potential use of solar energy as a long-term solution should be explored.
“Every community experiences weather conditions differently. Through our 4H framework and daily, classroom-level monitoring, we are empowering our school heads with the flexibility to adjust hours or shift to modular learning only when local conditions genuinely require it,” Angara stressed.
To facilitate swift action without bureaucratic delays, the new policy authorizes the use of various funding sources, with schools able to draw from their Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE), the Special Education Fund (SEF)—accessed through Local School Boards—allocations from the Disaster Preparedness and Response Program (DPRP), and the emergency procurement provisions under the New Government Procurement Act (RA 12009).
This directive takes effect immediately and will remain in force until PAGASA officially announces the conclusion of the 2026–2027 El Niño episode.
