Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Jovito "Jonkie" Ouano has convened a crucial meeting with education and disaster officials to evaluate the status of schools currently serving as evacuation centers in the city.
Assessment of School Evacuation Centers
The meeting included the superintendent of schools, staff from the Disaster Risk Management Office (DRMO), and City Social Services (CSS). According to Mandaue City Administrator Gonzalo "Sally" Malig-on, the primary focus was determining which educational institutions could safely return to normal operations and which needed to continue housing evacuees.
The city administration reached a clear decision: most schools will resume regular face-to-face instruction, with only seven facilities continuing to accommodate displaced individuals for a longer period.
Implementation of Learning Modalities
The Department of Education (DepEd) has recommended that Mayor Ouano issue an official order mandating the return to traditional classroom learning starting Thursday, November 13, 2025.
Malig-on clarified the special arrangement for the seven identified schools: "The catch is that these seven identified schools will continue blended learning because evacuees are still staying there." This means these schools will combine remote and limited in-person instruction until the evacuation situation is fully resolved.
The city government emphasized that the face-to-face class order applies specifically to all schools not currently functioning as evacuation centers.
Formal Communication with DepEd
The local government will formally communicate with the regional DepEd director about the current situation. This is particularly important as the existing 15-day agreement between DepEd and Mandaue City is nearing expiration and may require adjustments.
"We will send the letter today, November 11, but we understand that the evacuees will stay a little while longer in the seven schools," Malig-on stated, acknowledging the need for extended accommodation in specific locations while maintaining educational continuity through blended learning approaches.
