Chiz backs Laguna students appeal to ease face to face classes amid national energy emergency

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero has expressed support for calls from students in Laguna urging the suspension or easing of face-to-face classes while the country remains under a national energy emergency.

The senator made the statement following the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) issuance of a memorandum allowing higher education institutions (HEIs) to shift to up to 100-percent online learning, depending on institutional readiness and student capacity. The directive aligns with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s Executive Order No. 110, which aims to help ease the impact of rising transport fares and electricity costs on students and school personnel.

Escudero said student concerns over increasing transportation expenses and higher prices should be taken into consideration, noting that HEIs already have CHED’s approval to adjust their learning modalities.

He also cited CHED data showing that over 2,400 HEIs nationwide serve more than four million students. The Department of Education (DepEd), meanwhile, has allowed basic education schools to modify class schedules and implement energy-saving measures in response to the energy emergency.

The senator commended Laguna Governor Sol Aragones for initiating a dialogue with public and private HEIs to discuss possible adjustments in learning setups. The April 15 meeting at the provincial capitol addressed student appeals as well as the need to maintain academic quality, particularly for board courses and laboratory-based subjects that require in-person instruction.

Escudero thanked the governor for quickly responding to student concerns and engaging educational institutions, saying this kind of action is important during times of crisis.

He emphasized that while some courses must remain face-to-face, many lecture-based subjects can be shifted online to help reduce costs and ease the burden on students.

Finally, Escudero urged HEIs to release clear guidelines on their class arrangements and called on CHED regional offices to closely monitor implementation to ensure academic standards are maintained while prioritizing student welfare.