Manila, Jan. 17 -- The Department of Education (DepEd) has ordered schools in the Taal Volcano-affected region to accept internally displaced students even without complete transfer credentials.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones issued Memorandum 003, series of 2020, which contains emergency measures in response to the eruption of Taal Volcano, where she reiterated that the department would remain ready to reach out to learners wherever they may be and to ensure that their classes would continue.

During a coordination meeting attended by Briones here, it was noted that there are about 78 affected schools within the 14-km.-radius danger zone.

In total, about 30,814 learners have been affected by the eruption.

While the memo is already in place, DepEd 4-A (Calabarzon) director Wilfredo Cabral clarified that it is not necessary for students to officially transfer from their original school.

"Kung sila ay papapasukin sa nearby schools, bibigyan natin sila ng grading. Bibigyan natin ng instructions ang teachers kung saan kailangan, not necessarily ililipat na kaagad ang kanilang enrolment sa admitting school (If the displaced students would attend nearby schools, they will be graded accordingly. Their teachers will be given instructions. This does not necessarily mean they will be transferred to the admitting school)," he said during the meeting.

Cabral said the decision on whether they will be transferred permanently should come from the students' parents.

"If they want to permanently move out, that is the trigger to transfer from one school to another. In the meantime, all credentials are waived. (The students) should be admitted," he added.