The Department of Education has suspended classes in areas severely hit by Typhoon Ulysses.

In a memorandum, DepEd said regional directors will be allowed to suspend classes to give the affected teachers and students ample time to recover from the typhoon.

“In light of the severe damages and disruptions brought about by Typhoon Ulysses, as well as by the most recent typhoons such as Super Typhoon Rolly, Regional Directors are hereby authorized to suspend distance learning activities in identified severely affected Schools Divisions within their respective areas, for Friday and Saturday, November 13 and 14, to afford the households of our learners, teachers and personnel the time for their needed immediate recovery,” the DepEd said.

“This is without prejudice to suspension of distance learning activities as may be determined by local chief executives in their capacity as chairperson of their respective LDRRMCs [Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils],” it added.

Regional directors were also directed to submit to the Office of the Secretary, through the Undersecretary for Field Operations, a report on their implementation of this authorization.

“The Office of the President through Spokesperson Harry Roque issued suspension of classes and government work in a number of regions for tomorrow. That will be followed along with any suspension by local chief executives. Beyond these areas, Regional Directors were given authorization, and up to Saturday based on their determination. We will await their report on actions. National Capital Region had issuance for tomorrow, but already superseded by the spokesperson issuance,” Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said.

The education department earlier said that classes under distance learning may still be suspended in case of power outages due to typhoons.