Philippines DepEd allows schools to use maintenance funds for electric fans

Education Secretary Sonny Angara has advised public schools in the Philippines to utilize a portion of their Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) to purchase electric fans. This measure is intended to mitigate the impact of Super El Niño and extreme heat on students and teachers.

Under DepEd Memorandum No. 64, s. 2026, new heat protocols have been established. Physical and home-based activities must be suspended when ambient temperatures reach 42 degrees Celsius. For temperatures between 33 and 41 degrees Celsius, physical classes will cease in favor of lighter, home-based tasks. If temperatures range from 27 to 32 degrees Celsius, school heads may implement shortened face-to-face hours or hybrid schedules.

School heads are required to coordinate with local government units (LGUs) regarding any class suspensions or changes in learning modes. While the department may provide additional funding, some teacher advocacy groups, such as Action and Solidarity for the Empowerment of Teachers (ASSERT), have called for more permanent long-term solutions, including improved classroom ventilation and air-conditioning systems.