DUMAGUETE CITY, April 3 -- Negros Oriental Gov. Manuel Sagarbarria declared on Wednesday the suspension of face-to-face classes at all levels in public and private schools due to the extreme heat induced by the El Nino phenomenon.

The declaration came amid public clamor from residents and netizens in Negros Oriental for the suspension of in-person classes due to a projected rising heat index in the coming days.

"To ensure the welfare and safety of the public, most especially the pupils and students, teachers and personnel, against the extreme heat condition in the province, there is a need to declare a suspension of in-person/face-to-face classes," Sagarbarria said in his Executive Order No. 24, series of 2024.

He cited the projection ...