What it is
DepEd Memorandum No. 64, s. 2026 outlines guidelines from the Department of Education to prepare schools against the expected strong to very strong El Niño, which PAGASA projects will continue until mid-2027. This memorandum provides proactive steps to keep school environments safe, protect the health of students and teachers, and ensure learning continues despite the drought.
Key points
- The DepEd is shifting from sudden class suspensions to organized, early preparation.
- School leaders will use a practical guide based on localized decision-making regarding temperature and humidity readings taken daily at 8:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m.
- The 4H framework dictates responses based on heat index levels:
- Hayo level (below 27°C): Regular face-to-face classes with hydration breaks.
- Hinay caution level (27°C to 32°C): School heads may shorten class time or move to hybrid/flexible home-based schedules.
- Hinga extreme caution stage (33°C to 41°C): Physical classes stop, and students transition to lighter home-based tasks while health is monitored.
- Hinto danger level (42°C or higher): All academic and school activities are suspended, whether in school or at home.
- Schools must ensure water supply, provide safe drinking sources, and consider emergency procurement for filtration kits.
Who is affected
All public schools are covered by this directive, as it applies to the management of learning environments during extreme weather conditions.
What teachers should do
Teachers and school heads are empowered to adjust schedules based on daily, classroom-level monitoring using the 4H framework. Furthermore, schools are tasked with maintaining safety protocols by checking electrical lines and clearing dry vegetation on school grounds according to the Fire Code of the Philippines.
Source
Official source: deped.gov.ph