Teachers’ Day class suspensions stir legal questions in Iloilo

ILOILO CITY — The cancellation of a planned class suspension in Pavia, Iloilo, and differing decisions among local governments in Iloilo have raised questions over whether mayors have the legal authority to suspend classes solely for National Teachers’ Day on Monday.

Pavia initially announced the suspension of classes and school-based work in public and private schools from preschool to senior high school, citing the need to recognize teachers and education workers. The municipal government later withdrew the order after reviewing its legal basis.

The government of Pavia said class suspensions must have specific legal grounds and be properly coordinated with the Department of Education (DepEd) and other education authorities.

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READ: Walang pasok: In-person classes suspended Oct. 5 for Nat’l Teachers’ Day

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The reversal came as several other Iloilo municipalities announced Teachers’ Day class suspensions, including Balasan, San Joaquin, Dumangas, San Enrique, Dueñas, Banate, Carles, Barotac Nuevo, Leon and Oton. New Lucena announced a suspension starting at 1 p.m.

In neighboring Guimaras, Jordan Mayor John Edward Gando declined to suspend classes, saying local chief executives have limited authority to cancel classes under existing laws.

Gando cited Republic Act No. 10743, or the National Teachers’ Day Act, and Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code, saying neither law expressly authorizes mayors to suspend classes for Teachers’ Day.

RA 10743, signed in 2016, declares Oct. 5 as National Teachers’ Day and a special working holiday. It directs government agencies, local government units, and private employers to encourage and provide sufficient time for employees to participate in Teachers’ Day activities.

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The law does not expressly declare Oct. 5 a no-class day.

READ: Pangasinan towns revoke class suspensions for Teachers’ Day

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DepEd Western Visayas reiterated this in Regional Memorandum No. 1003, series of 2026, issued Oct. 4. The memorandum disseminated RA 10743 to schools across the region and noted that Oct. 5 is a special working holiday. It did not order a region-wide class suspension.

Existing DepEd rules allow localized class suspensions under specific circumstances, particularly disasters, emergencies, and hazardous conditions. Whether a commemorative event such as Teachers’ Day falls within a local chief executive’s authority to suspend classes remains the central legal question.

The differing decisions have resulted in students in some Iloilo municipalities being excused from classes while those in neighboring areas are required to attend.

The controversy also shows the distinction between a class suspension and a holiday. A local government’s suspension of classes does not make Oct. 5 a special non-working holiday, while its designation as a special working holiday under RA 10743 does not automatically suspend classes.

READ: Palace: No nationwide class suspension for Teachers’ Day on Oct. 5

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For Western Visayas schools, DepEd’s Oct. 4 memorandum confirms that National Teachers’ Day remains a special working holiday. The authority of individual LGUs to suspend classes specifically for the occasion, however, remains the subject of differing interpretations./coa