PRESCRIBING RULES ON THE CANCELLATION OR SUSPENSION OF CLASSES AND WORK IN GOVERNMENT OFFICES DUE TO TYPHOONS, FLOODING, OTHER WEATHER DISTURBANCES, AND CALAMITIES

WHEREAS, it is a declared policy
of the State to uphold the people’s constitutional rights to life,
health, safety and property and to promote the general welfare of its
people at all times, especially during disasters and calamities;

WHEREAS, it
is likewise the declared policy of the State to institutionalize the
policies, structures, coordination mechanism and programs on disaster
risk reduction from national down to local levels; recognize the local
risk patterns across the country and strengthen the capacity of Local
Government Units (LGUs) for disaster risk reduction and management
through decentralized powers, responsibilities, and resources at the
regional and local levels;

WHEREAS, the
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration (PAGASA) is the agency of the government mandated to
observe and report the weather of the Philippines and specified adjacent
areas, and to issue forecasts and warnings of weather and flood
condition affecting national safety, welfare and economy;

WHEREAS, the
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) is a
government entity mandated to establish a national early warning and
emergency alert system to provide accurate and timely advice to national
or local emergency response organizations and to the general public
through diverse mass media; and recommend to the President the
declaration of a state of calamity in areas extensively damaged; and

WHEREAS, there
is a need to streamline the procedure in the suspension of classes and
work in government offices in times of typhoons, floods and other
disasters or calamities to spare the pupils, students, government
workers and the general public from unnecessary dangers to their lives
and limbs.

NOW, THEREFORE, I BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, President of the Philippines , by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order;

Section 1. Automatic Cancellation or Suspension of Classes and Work in Government Offices, The
following guidelines shall be followed for the automatic cancellation
or suspension of classes in all public and private elementary, secondary
and tertiary schools, as well as work in all government offices:

1. When Signal No. 1 is raised by PAGASA, classes at the pre-school level, in the affected area, shall be automatically cancelled or suspended.
2. When Signal No. 2 is
   raised by PAGASA, classes at the pre-school, elementary and secondary
   levels, in the affected area, shall be automatically cancelled or
   suspended,

3. When Signal No. 3 or higher is
   raised by PAGASA, classes at pre-school, elementary, secondary, and
   tertiary levels, in the affected area, including graduate school, as
   well as work in all government offices, shall be automatically cancelled
   or suspended.

The PAGASA shall issue weather
forecasts through various media outlets (radio and television), and the
NDRRMC, not later than 10:00 PM of the previous day and 4:30 AM of the
day of the intended cancellation of classes and work. In cases where
there are classes and work in the morning and suspension of classes and
work is only effective in the afternoon, PAGASA should issue the
forecast not later than 11:00 AM of the said day.

Section 2. Localized Cancellation or Suspension of Classes and Work in Government Offices. In
the absence of typhoon signal warnings from PAGASA, localized
cancellation or suspension of classes and work in government offices may
be implemented by local chief executives, as chairmen of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (LDRRMC) concerned, in coordination with PAGASA and the NDRRMC, specifically in flood-prone or high risk areas.

Announcements
will be made not later than 4:30 AM of the day of the intended
cancellation of classes and work, or not later than 11:00 AM for
suspension of work and classes in the afternoon session, through diverse
mass media, particularly radio and television, landline communications
and other technologies for communication within the community or
locality.

Section 3. Cancellation or Suspension of Classes and Work in the Government During Other Calamities. Classes
in all levels in both public and private schools as well as work in the
government offices may be cancelled or suspended in areas affected by
disasters or calamities other than typhoons, such as but not limited to
floods, earthquakes, tsunami and conflagration, upon the declaration by
the President of a State of Calamity based on the recommendation of the
NDRRMC.

The concerned Local Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Office (LDRRMO) headed by the local chief executive shall be
responsible for announcing the suspension of classes and work in the
government offices in the affected areas in coordination with the
NDRRMC, through all forms of mass media available under the
circumstances.

Section 4. Maintenance of Work Force. In
the event of cancellation or suspension of work in government offices
due to any of the foregoing circumstances, the following government
agencies, particularly those directly involved in disaster risk
reduction and management, shall maintain the operations of their
respective offices to ensure the continuity of the delivery of services
to the public:

a. Office of the Executive Secretary

b. Department of National Defense

c. Department of the Interior and Local Government

d. Department of Social Welfare and Development

e. Department of Science and Technology

f. Department of Health

g. Department of Public Works and Highways

h. Department of Education

i. Other agencies whose operations the President or the NDRRMC may deem necessary.

The
Heads of Offices of the foregoing agencies shall determine which of
their respective divisions or units, particularly those related to
disaster risk reduction and management, shall maintain its operations.

Section 5. Report to the President. The
NDRRMC chaired by the Secretary of National Defense shall immediately
inform the Office of the President, through the Executive Secretary, of
the cancellation or suspension of classes and work in government offices
in the affected areas.

Section 6. Concurrent Authority. The
Office of the President, through the Executive Secretary, shall have
concurrent authority with the NDRRMC to cancel or suspend classes and
work in government offices in the affected areas.

Section 7. Repeal. All
issuances, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof, inconsistent
with this Executive Order are hereby repealed, amended or modified
accordingly.

Section 8. Effectivity. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE, in the City of Manila , this 9th day of January in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Twelve

(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III
President of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR.
Executive Secretary