The Department of Education (DepEd) activated its emergency learning measures as heavy rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon disrupted classes in Metro Manila and several provinces, reminding schools and field offices to apply the Department’s Education in Emergencies framework to protect learners, teachers, and school personnel.
The reminder follows Memorandum Circular No. 123 of the Office of the President, which directed alternative learning modes in affected areas today, unless otherwise directed by local chief executives.
DepEd said the current weather situation highlights the need for schools to use the 4H protocol — Hayo, Hinay, Hinga, and Hinto — to guide decisions on learning delivery based on safety, learner readiness, available resources, and local conditions.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the policy is designed to help schools respond to disruptions in a way that protects learners and teachers while keeping learning possible when conditions allow.
“Kapag malakas ang ulan, baha ang daan, o may risk sa safety ng learners at teachers, hindi puwedeng one-size-fits-all ang decision. Kailangan malinaw ang batayan: ligtas ba, kaya ba, at anong klaseng learning support ang angkop? Iyan ang layunin ng 4H framework — gabayan ang schools kung kailan tutuloy, kailan babagalan, kailan hihinga, at kailan kailangang huminto muna,” Angara said.
Under the framework, Hinto is applied when conditions are unsafe or when learners’ safety, protection, or basic needs are at risk. At this level, academic activities are temporarily stopped so schools and communities can prioritize safety, emergency response, and essential support.
Hinga is used when learners, teachers, and school personnel need time to recover from stress, disruption, or displacement. Schools may conduct well-being checks, psychosocial support, and light asynchronous activities, but submissions and regular academic requirements should not be required.
Hinay, or the yellow level, applies when there is disruption but learning can continue in an adjusted and teacher-supervised manner, either through synchronous or asynchronous modalities depending on available resources, connectivity, and local conditions.
Hayo is activated once conditions have returned to normal and regular learning can safely resume.
DepEd emphasized that in areas where local governments or schools have shifted to asynchronous or alternative learning modes due to the current rains, these arrangements may be treated as Hinay, provided that learners and teachers are safe and learning requirements are adjusted to the situation.
The Department reminded schools that learning continuity during emergencies does not mean forcing regular academic work during unsafe or highly stressful conditions. Instead, schools must calibrate learning based on actual risk, available access, and the well-being of learners and personnel.
“Sa ganitong panahon, ang unang dapat isipin ay kaligtasan. May mga sitwasyong kailangang Hinto muna, may kailangan ng Hinga para makabawi, may puwededng mag-Hinay sa pamamagitan ng adjusted learning, at may babalik sa Hayo kapag normal na ang lahat. Ang mahalaga, hindi natin ipipilit ang iisang response sa magkakaibang sitwasyong ne learners, teachers, at mga komunidad,” Angara said.
DepEd also directed schools to coordinate with local government units, disaster risk reduction and management offices, and field offices in determining the appropriate learning continuity level.
Schools were also reminded to update their Learning and Service Continuity Plans, maintain emergency communication channels with learners and parents, and ensure that academic requirements remain reasonable during weather-related disruptions.
The Department said Regional Offices and Schools Division Offices shall continue providing technical assistance to schools, particularly in areas affected by heavy rains, flooding, landslides, and other hazards.
Through the 4H protocol and ready-to-deploy learning provisions, DepEd aims to support schools in making timely, humane, and context-sensitive decisions that protect learners and teachers while sustaining learning wherever safe and appropriate.
