Malacañang on Friday issued Memorandum Circular No. 134, directing educational institutions across Metro Manila and 14 provinces to transition to alternative learning modes on September 4, 2026, amid compound environmental and severe weather hazards.
Signed by Acting Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto by authority of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the memorandum outlines measures to maintain learning continuity while protecting students and school personnel from heavy monsoon precipitation and deteriorating air quality.
Dual Weather and Environmental Threats
The order follows explicit recommendations from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). Authorities cited two primary factors prompting the nationwide alert:
- Enhanced Southwest Monsoon: Continued heavy rainfall is anticipated across Western and Northern Luzon.
- Air Pollution and Haze: Metro Manila and surrounding regions are experiencing heightened air quality degradation caused by haze originating from severe forest and peatland fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra, Indonesia.
Covered Regions and Scope
The circular covers all public and private educational institutions at all academic levels in the following areas:
- National Capital Region (NCR)
- Ilocos Region: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan
- Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR): Abra, Benguet
- Central Luzon: Zambales, Bataan, Bulacan, Tarlac, Pampanga
- Calabarzon & Mimaropa: Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro
Under the guidelines, local chief executives (LCEs) outside the listed provinces retain authority to declare localized class suspensions or operational adjustments in their respective jurisdictions in accordance with existing laws and safety protocols.
Memorandum Circular No. 134 took effect immediately upon signing.
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