Students accomplish a seatwork  as school year 2023-2024 opens at the Corazon Aquino Elementary School in Quezon City on Tuesday, August 29, 2023.  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATED) -- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said he is asking the Department of Education to revert to the old academic calendar by 2025 amid cancellations of in-person classes due to the hot weather brought about by the El Niño phenomenon.

READ: Marcos seeks to expedite return to old school calendar

"Hiningi ko 'yan sa DepEd and I asked Inday Sara to give me already a concerted plan because mukha naman hindi na tayo kailangan mag-antay pa at mukha namang kailangan na. I don't see any objections really from anyone especially with the El Niño being what it is," he told reporters.

"Everyday, you turn on the news face-to-face classes are canceled, face-to-face classes have been postponed etc. So talagang kailangan na kailangan na. So yes, that’s part of the plan, that we’re trying to do to bring it back already to the old schedule. I think it would be better for the kids."

Asked if the change will be implemented by next year, he said: "Hopefully by next year, yes, matatapos na."

The DepEd earlier said it has recommended to the President to end the school year 2024-2025 by March 2025 in order to immediately revert to the old academic calendar by the following school year.

READ: DepEd suggests 'aggressive' end to SY 2024-2025 to speed up calendar shift

If adopted, this would lead to school work even on Saturdays because of the reduced number of days in person, DepEd Assistant Secretary Francis Cesar Bringas said. 

"We are looking at 165 days full in person if we do it aggressively…It will have an implication on the school break for teachers because we all know that teachers to a proportional vacation pay (PVP) that is 2 months after each school year, and the PVP is computed based on the number of school days in a given school year, so there has to be a compromise there," Bringas said. 

Some senators offered contrasting reactions to Marcos Jr.'s decision, with Senator Francis Escudero urging caution.

"I hope this is a well-studied decision and not a knee-jerk reaction to the extreme heat brought about by El Niño," Escudero said in a statement to media. "Sana naman pag-dating ng La Niña di na naman nila baguhin dahil naman sa ulan at baha."

Meanwhile, Senator Francis Tolentino said he "totally agree[s]" with the move.

"It will greatly help our learners and teachers cope with the post-pandemic educational catch up plans given the current unbearable weather conditions. Hindi talaga kaya ang init ng panahon ngayon," he said.

The House of Representatives on Monday urged DepEd to revert to the June-March school calendar for basic education schools, citing the "extreme heat" experienced by learners and teachers during April and May which is "not conducive to learning."

"Learns [are] unable to enjoy the school break because of the rainy season," according to House Resolution 1650. "This phenomenon had led to waning attention of learners in the classrooms and more frequent absences." -- With reports from Vivienne Gulla and RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News