More members of the education sector have expressed support for the Angeles City Government and Mayor Carmelo “Jon” B. Lazatin II over decisions on the suspension of face-to-face classes amid inclement weather.
The Angeles City Association of Private Schools (ACAPS), Saint Emiliana Academy of Excellence, and Systems Plus College Foundation Executive Vice President Happie Bustamante called for understanding, cooperation, and responsible dialogue instead of online bashing over class suspension decisions.
In a statement dated August 25, ACAPS said it “fully supports and respects” the city government’s decisions, stressing that class suspensions are never made lightly and should prioritize the safety and welfare of learners, teachers, and school personnel.
Saint Emiliana Academy likewise emphasized the need to balance learning continuity with the safety of students, educators, and their families, particularly amid rapidly changing weather conditions. It urged the public to choose “understanding over outrage, responsible dialogue over online bashing, and solidarity over division.”
Bustamante, meanwhile, stressed that class suspension is a shared responsibility among the national government, LGUs, schools, and parents.
Recalling a 2025 dialogue between Mayor Lazatin and school administrators, Bustamante said schools and the LGU agreed that suspension decisions should be collaborative, with schools able to initiate suspension when circumstances warrant and parents retaining the responsibility to determine whether their children can safely attend.
She also pointed to the challenges caused by prolonged class disruptions, including difficulties catching up with lessons, connectivity and power problems, and disruptions to school operations and personnel.
Bustamante urged the public to consider actual conditions, weather forecasts, road accessibility, school safety, stakeholder consultations, and other factors before judging suspension decisions.
“If the mayor doesn’t suspend, we initiate. If the mayor suspends, we follow,” she said, emphasizing that “safety first” should remain the common priority.
The statements echo the earlier call of Schools Division Superintendent Edgard Domingo for discernment and responsibility in using social media.
