The philosophy for suspending classes and work

We do concede, of course, that the president, as head of state and head of government, is vested with the plenary power to suspend classes and work both in the public and private sectors, and to declare special holidays, whether working or non-working. Nobody questions that. But then again, we are searching for rhyme and reason for such declarations, and we do assess the implications of such presidential decisions on the socio-economic life of the nation. There were presidents in the past who were very conservative in making such declarations. The others were more liberal and freewheeling in this exercise of presidential prerogative.

Suspending work in Metro Manila, Bulacan, and Pampanga from November 13 to 15 as well as suspending classes from November 13 to 17, after the series of holidays and typhoons, has some serious effects and implications. On work, that suspension could only mean productivity will be reduced to zero for three consecutive days. Output in production and sales will be lost and those manufacturing, marketing and sales firms will have to pay more to their workers if and when they insist to operate on those days. For the daily-paid workers, minimum wage-earning casuals, and contractuals who live a hand-to-mouth existence it means no income for three days as they are covered by “no work-no pay” conditions.

On classes, most of the students and even teachers will be jubilant now, but soon they will have to replace the five days by going to schools on Saturdays and Sundays because DepED and CHED require a minimum number of days and classroom hours as pre-requisite to completing a course. Idle days means our students and teachers will go to malls and internet cafés and spending their days in leisure and recreation, only to do some overtime to make up for time lost in the classrooms. The quality of education will again be affected and learning jeopardized because of a national event.

We do not question the cause of these suspensions. Government does not want traffic woes to be exacerbated when we host the ASEAN conference. Twenty-one heads of states are coming. President Donald Trump is coming along with the Chinese and Russian leaders. The prime ministers of Japan, Australia, and New Zealand are also coming. Security will be a nightmare for authorities. But the reason why we are suspending work is not really because our leaders want workers and students to pay homage to ASEAN. It is rather because we have limited space and we want students and workers not to use the roads while important visitors use them. The decision to suspend work and classes may be sound, but the philosophy behind it is downright embarrassing. Tsk, tsk, tsk.