Suspension Tension

A friend visited me at home and commented that it was a holiday. I corrected him and told him that work, and school is suspended. He replied that there is not much difference.

Interestingly, it has been a coincidence that on the past two Mondays, classes in schools and work in government offices had been suspended due to the low pressure area bringing heavy rainfall. Well, in fairness, the rainfall had not really been that heavy. That got some people thinking that the suspension is pointless since the weather has been relatively okay. There haven’t been strong and heavy rains that would cause much inconvenience or put students in danger. In fact, the local government of Naga has reportedly submitted correspondence to the Department of Interior and Local Government which fascinatingly declares the suspensions, to give authority to the LGUs to declare the suspensions. Of course, if the authority is given to the LGU, the effectiveness of the declaration would apply within the boundaries of the municipality, city or province.

A common sentiment is the frustration over the time lost by students from classroom instruction, especially when all we got are cloudy skies and less than moderate rains. They’re worried about the lost classroom time and school days that disrupt the school calendar, taking away the time that the children should have been in school learning about stuff.

Let’s break it down simply. The national government suspends classes because of impending bad weather to keep the children safe. Classes get suspended. If it rains heavy, the children would be safe. If it doesn’t rain heavy, the children would still be safe. Either way, the children are safe. That is unless, their parents allow them to go out of the house. That’s on them. But, one thing’s for sure; the kids won’t be soaked on flood water and/or rainwater when classes gets dismissed. If they ever get soaked nonetheless, it would not be because they went to their classes in school. It would be because they still went out despite the warnings.

Some local authorities don’t like it that the suspension declaration are general, sweeping and blanket all over provinces. They would want that local governments reserve the right to declare suspension of classes and/or of work on their particular local areas. If that would happen, neighboring municipalities and cities could have different declarations of suspension.

So, what could happen is an Ateneo de Naga University student who lives in Baao may need to go to class in Naga if City Hall doesn’t declare suspension, even classes are suspended in his/her hometown. It could be the other way around. A University of Nueva caceres student who lives in Canaman would not need to go to his/her classes in naga, while his/her younger siblings go to class in their barangay’s elementary school. Now, that would be confusing.

Let’s suppose that on a particular day, the downpour has been heavy since early morning throughout the day until the afternoon and evening. However, since each local government has their own interpretation of when to declare class and/or work suspensions, a student or employee who resides in Goa but studies or works in naga, despite the municipal mayor having declared suspension, would have to brave the stormy weather to Naga because it’s business as usual in the city. That would be ridiculous. Weather does not follow the boundaries and policies of local governments. Weather encompasses the whole geographical territory. Weather and its effects, by nature, blankets an expanse of territory including land masses and bodies of water. That’s simply what nature is, and how nature goes. Weather is a blanket that covers our local areas and even neighboring provinces. It doesn’t respect local boundaries of jurisdiction. It is not even aware of such flimsy man-made concepts such as government or boundaries or policies. Weather will come and strike its force upon us. It could be intense heat, fair blowing breeze or torrential typhoons. Take pleasure or take cover.

Let’s suppose that one local government be granted the authority to declare school and/or work suspensions within its jurisdiction. What would happen then? Does one local government follow its own standards while other municipalities follow the national DILG declaration? Is weather different among different cities and municipalities? Perhaps its effects would be different depending on topography. There would be areas which would be more prone to tidal waves, floods, or landslides. Yet, it would still be the same heavy downpour across the provinces. Last year, Kristine sank us like never before in living memory. She ravaged us all regardless of local governments. Under the weather, we are all one mass of land.

Matthew 24:29: ““Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.””