LIST: LGUs, schools shift to online classes next week amid nationwide transport strike
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 2) — A number of local government units (LGUs) and schools have placed contingencies in anticipation of the impact of the transport strike, including shifting to online classes and offering "libreng sakay" trips.
These include Angeles City in Pampanga, and the cities of Caloocan, Las Piñas, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Manila, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasig, Quezon, San Juan, and Taguig in Metro Manila. They said classes could be done online, asynchronous, or through modules next week.
San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora — who also heads the Metro Manila Council — said he is prepared to suspend classes if necessary.
“We will play it by ear. Mararamdaman naman natin kung matutuloy o hindi, kung gaano kalaki ang epekto nito,” Zamora said.
[Translation: We will know if the transport strike will push through and on how big the impact will be.]
The Department of Education, however, is not keen on announcing class suspensions.
RELATED: Group slams DepEd's move not to suspend classes as transport strike looms
Ateneo de Manila University, University of Santo Tomas (UST), University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, and De La Salle University (DLSU) Manila also announced that classes next week will be online.
Offices in Ateneo and UST will also be closed and operations will be online.
DLSU told CNN Philippines that they “will have the shift-online whether the strike pushes through or not, so as to provide certainty as to how classes will proceed next week.”
La Salle Greenhills and Araneta in Malabon City also announced that they will hold classes online next week.
DLSU added that both campuses in Manila and Laguna will provide a free point-to-point shuttle service next week around 5:30 a.m. to 6:10 p.m.
Other schools that will shift to online classes are:
— Baliuag University in Bulacan
— Perpetual Help DELTA in Las Piñas
— Assumption College San Lorenzo
— Far Eastern University (Manila and Makati campuses)
— San Sebastian College - Recoletos Manila
Residents in the following Metro Manila cities can expect these "libreng sakay" trips:
In Manila, recruitment activities of the Public Employment Service Office were also canceled.
For its part, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) prepared 25 vehicles that can accommodate around 1,200 passengers.
The MMDA also said it will lift the expanded number coding scheme on Monday.
This story will be updated for similar announcements.
CNN Philippines' Gerg Cahiles, Kaithreen Cruz, Mariel Serquiña, and Jelo Mantaring contributed to this story.
