MANILA — House lawmakers urged the Department of Education on Thursday to come up with a "long-term solution" as classes have been called off in various parts of the National Capital Region due to soaring temperatures.

House Committee on Basic Education and Culture Chairperson Roman Romulo of Pasig asked DepEd officials how the agency is addressing the need to hold classes despite the sweltering heat.

DepEd Assistant Regional Director for NCR Cristito Eco said there are contingency plans to hold online classes or for schools to use learning modules.

"Basically, in some division offices they don't have capacity to implement online classes. So we resort to modular," Eco said.

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Romulo expressed dismay over this answer, citing issues with internet connection, even in Metro Manila.

Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel echoed the sentiment, saying the problem with the heat is not a new problem.

"[A]s part of our adaptation sa lumalalang init, I can't imagine ganito parin ang magiging tugon five to ten years from now. Ibig sabihin every March to April ganito ang magiging fall back natin?" he said. 

(I can't imagine that we will have the same response to the worsening heat five to ten years from now. Are you saying that every March and April, that will be our fallback option?)

He said DepEd needs a longer-term solution since heat will be a problem every year.

Muntinlupa Rep. Jaime Fresnedi added school principals in his district have raised issues with the delivery of the learning modules.

"The problem that I've been hearing from them, the module being provided by DepEd is sometimes the module for first quarter was delivered second quarter. Sometimes even third quarter," he said.

Fresnedi also cited the lack of textbooks per level and per subject.

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Eco acknowledged the issue of late deliveries of modules, but said these can be reused in the next school year.

"Ang ating instruction sa field, if it is not used this time, then it should be kept and used the following year. Yun ang ating strategy for some areas na may concerns sa delivery," he said.

(Our instructions to the field offices is, if it is not used this time, then it should be kept and used the following year. That is our strategy for some areas where delivery is a concern)

Romulo called on DepEd to formulate a better solution to the recurring issue.

"Hindi effective yung modules. Hindi rin siya as effective as face-to-face. Hindi rin effective ang online. So sana hindi yun yung sagot natin," he said.

(The modules are not effective. They are not as good as face-to-face classes. Online classes also aren't effective. So, I hope we have other solutions)

He added DepEd should consider cutting the number of subjects in the curriculum and focusing on functional literacy.

"Dapat may reading comprehension, grade level appropriate… Siguraduhin natin yung basics, grade level appropriate. At least yun mabigay natin ilang oras sa school," Romulo added.

(The learners should have grade level appropriate reading comprehension. Let's make sure they have grade level competence in the basics. At least devote a few hours in school to that)

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