Waterproof No More?

In a country where there isn't a highly-stable metropolitan flood control system, class suspension becomes the last resort. We learned from our grade school days that the Philippines has been visited by nearly 20 storms a year, making us a flood-prone nation and yet I don't know if there's a flood control system, because if there is, I'm one among those who really can't feel it. We live in a low-lying place, which doesn't spare us from this wrath of nature.

Yesterday, classes were suspended at 1PM -- the time when the skies are clear again. Too good for elementary and high school students, the Department of Education made an early announcement. Most UPD students are eagerly waiting for a class suspension by Chancellor Caesar Saloma, which remained a wish until 1PM after Executive Secretary Pacquito Ochoa Jr., or now known as "class suspension czar", made the move.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said that the control over class suspensions has been devolved to the university and college administrations. In my own opinion, it'd be better to centralize the decision-making over these matters and coordinate with the school officials. CHED's rationalization could be that situations are different from one university to another, and the biggest example is the University of Santo Tomas. Compared to UPD which stands on a relatively higher place, UST should be the first to suspend classes when things get worse. However, the problem comes with information dissemination and the confusion. How?

First of all, not all universities have an established connection with their students like in UP Diliman where the chancellor texts the officials in his contacts then begins a text brigade until it reaches the whole student community. So other universities resort to contacting TV stations for their announcements. Second is the confusion: with the recent situation, even though CHED has said suspension powers have been devolved, they are continuously blamed and accused of as "walang kwenta". People have been expecting CHED to act like DepEd.

Even though re-centralization wouldn't be a good option, at least the CHED should have retained some powers to declare suspension and set the initiative. I'm really sick of those "parents may not send their children if the situation warrants it", because it doesn't strongly guarantee that the student can have makeup examinations for example as some teachers may argue that there is no suspension order issued by DepEd.

How long will our nation continue to be like this when rainy seasons come? I have no enough time to research on flood control plans of MMDA and of the provinces, but I do wish that the "baha republic" will cease to exist in the near future.