THE NEW set of guidelines on the suspension of classes and work during national disaster and calamities has yet to take effect.

The Department of Education clarified it after releasing and posting on its website on Thursday DepEd Order 37, which Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio signed in her capacity as secretary of education.

“DepEd Order No. 37, series of 2022 is not yet in effect since it has not been filed in the Office of the National Administrative Register of the UP Law Center which requires a wet signature,” the agency said in a statement.

“It was released as an advance copy in the DepEd website with an electronic signature,” it added.

The department said the issuance was a matter taken up during the last cabinet meeting, including the request to amend Executive Order 66 to allow the Department Order to govern cancellation and suspension of classes.

To avoid confusion in its field operations, DepEd has taken down the issuance of the order from its website.

The order provides classes are suspended in areas placed under Signal Nos. 1, 2 ,3, 4, or 5 by PAGASA.

Based on the department order, classes will also be suspended in schools in areas under a Yellow, Orange, or Red Rainfall Warning, or Flood Warning by PAGASA.

Schools are obligated to keep students and personnel inside if traveling becomes unsafe.