SENATE President Juan Miguel ‘Migz’ Zubiri is calling on the government especially Education Secretary Sara Duterte to consider the immediate transition to revert to the old school calendar as the temperature continues to increase.

“Gusto kong itulak ang pagbabalik ng ating bakasyon, from this calendar year of being June and then ‘yung bakasyon is on July. Dapat siguro ibalik po natin sa lumang schedule ng ating mga eskwelahan. Kawawang-kawawa po ang ating mga batang mga estudyante. Kawawang-kawawa po sila. Napakainit na mga classrooms. Napakainit na mga classrooms, paaralan. Ang dami na po complaints of heat stroke ng mga bata,” Zubiri said in an interview over DWPM Radyo 630 on Sunday (28 April 2024).

“Kaya nagkakaroon po sila ng school stoppages or suspension of classes. Dahil sa sobrang init nitong summer na ito, itong nakaraang mga ilang araw. I think it’s about time and I’m appealing to the President, I’m appealing to the Department of Education Secretary, Secretary Sara Duterte, na Ma’am, Madam Vice President, siguro kailangan natin pag-aralan na ibalik na lang natin ulit sa April-May break ang ating mga kabataan which they come back on June 15 or second week of June,” he added.

Zubiri said with the current situation of extreme heat, only private educational institutions, which have air-conditioning units in every classroom, can afford to provide their students with a convenient place to study.

“So imagine if you’re going through 40-degree heat, 40-degree centigrade heat, hihimatayin ka. Hindi ka talaga makakapag-aaral. Hindi mo nga maisip kung anong sinasabi namin ng instructor mo dahil sa napaka-init ng panahon,” the senate leader explained.

The Department of Education earlier confirmed that they are gradually transitioning to the old school calendar while not sacrificing two-month vacation for students and teachers.