SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday pushed for greater flexibility in declaring class suspensions, urging that local government units be given authority to decide based on the specific conditions in their areas.

“Class suspensions during inclement weather and other emergencies are intended to ensure the safety of our learners. However, frequent suspensions also lead to significant learning loss, further aggravating our education crisis,” Gatchalian said.

The senator noted that “blanket suspensions” of classes often fail to account for the varying situations across provinces, cities, and municipalities.

He suggested reviewing the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s current authority to declare nationwide or region-wide suspensions.

“Instead of implementing blanket class suspensions, I propose allowing LGUs to decide based on the specific situation and needs of their constituents,” he added.

While prioritizing student safety during calamities, Gatchalian emphasized the need to ensure continuity of learning.

“Bagama’t prayoridad natin ang kaligtasan ng mga mag-aaral sa panahon ng sakuna, mahalagang tutukan din natin kung paano magpapatuloy ang edukasyon,” he said.

His proposal comes amid growing concerns over the long-term impact of disrupted schooling on students’ academic performance.