The Department of Education reiterated Tuesday that face-to-face classes may be suspended in localities affected by extreme heat brought on by the dry season and the El Nino phenomenon. 

This, after Bacolod Mayor Albee Benitez announced suspension of face-to-face classes in both public and private schools and universities in elementary and secondary levels in Bacolod City after PAGASA's forecast of a high heat index on March 11 and 12.

"Last year meron nang situation na ganito at nakapag-issue na tayo ng directives last year para sa mga field offices na maaaring mag-suspend ng face to face classes...kung sobrang init na talaga ang nararamdaman sa kanilang mga school," DepEd deputy spokesperson Asec. Francis Bringas said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.

Classes automatically shift to modular distance learning on the event of the suspension of face-to-face classes, Bringas said. 

Local government officials and even school heads can announce the suspension of face-to-face classes based on the PAGASA heat index forecast, the official said.

"'Yung PAGASA meron silang ginagamit na scale at pag umaabot na sa scale na masyado nang mainit, kinakailangan na nilang mag-suspend," he said. 

Face-to-face classes in Western Visayas are set to resume by March 13.