Public elementary and high schools across Albay will suspend classes from Monday through Friday to accommodate a scheduled wellness break and facilitate an intensive, province-wide anti-dengue sanitation drive.
Under the directive issued by Albay Governor Noel Rosal, public school classes will pause from September 14 to 16 for the Department of Education’s (DepEd) wellness break, while suspensions on September 17 and 18 will cover the province’s dengue containment initiative.
Private elementary and secondary schools are likewise mandated to suspend classes on September 17 and 18.
The class suspensions aim to provide designated times for local authorities and school administrators to clean facilities, eliminate potential mosquito-breeding grounds, and implement vector control measures.
Authorities advised students to stay indoors, take precautions against mosquito bites, and instructed parents to monitor children for dengue symptoms and seek prompt medical care if needed.
Meanwhile, local higher education institutions are transitioning to distance learning.
The University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi announced a shift to online synchronous instruction for its basic education department starting September 14, while keeping administrative operations normal.
Divine Word College of Legazpi also transitioned all academic levels to synchronous online classes starting September 14 until further notice.
As part of the health intervention, the provincial government will conduct a simultaneous “search and destroy” operation across all 720 barangays and schools on September 17. To bolster local capacity, each of Albay’s 15 municipalities will receive an additional fogging machine. Furthermore, the provincial government, in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) – Bicol, will distribute rice to residents participating in community cleanup drives through a food-for-work initiative.
In preparation for a potential rise in cases, all province-managed public hospitals have been placed on red alert. Local disaster risk reduction and management councils at the city, municipal, and barangay levels have been instructed to maintain strict surveillance within their jurisdictions.
Governor Rosal appealed to local government units, educational institutions, and residents to remain vigilant and cooperate fully with health officials to curb community transmission.