The father and son mayors in the cities of Bacolod and Victorias have taken opposing positions on the cancellation of classes due to the scorching temperature affecting the province.
Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez ordered the cancellation of face-to-face classes from April 1 to 2 after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration forecasted the heat index at 41 degrees Celsius.
The Bacolod mayor asked schools to shift to online learning, except for schools that are fully air-conditioned.
However, the son of Benitez, Victorias Mayor Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez who chairs the Association of Chief Executives in the province, made an opposing stand, opting for classes to proceed as scheduled.
He said that his decision comes after careful consideration of geographical layout, autonomy of school heads, and general advisory on local conditions.
He added: “Our geographical terrain ranges from mountains to coastlines, and our schools experience weather conditions differently.”
In a follow-up statement, the younger Benitez intellectually defended his decision, explaining that suspending classes only offers a temporary fix to a complex issue.
He pointed out that El Niño is a climatic event that can last for several months or even years, characterized by fluctuating, often higher, temperatures. As such, rising temperatures are not a simple trend of continuous increase but come with varying highs and lows.
He further emphasized that the necessity of formal education for children remains paramount.
He believes that the most effective approach is to adapt the learning environment to these challenges, making them more suitable for education despite the heat.
