Several lawmakers on Friday joined the clamor for the postponement of the start of classes scheduled on June 1 to prevent the spread of the A (H1N1) virus in the country.

Marikina 1st District Rep. Marcelino R. Teodoro said he is in favor of the move to postpone the June 1 classes to avoid the possible spread of the virus.

"Appropriate measures should be taken to evade further exacerbation of the situation. The Department of Health (DOH) should intensify its publicly released guidelines to prevent being infected by the virus along with the setting up of temperature reading areas in schools," said Teodoro, Chairman of the House Committee on People Participation.

Teodoro also said that should classes still push through on the set schedule, children would be the most susceptible to the virus and are at high risk when exposed to an infected individual during school days.

"The DOH must inform the public of the severity of the virus once contracted so the public will be continuously vigilant and responsible once symptoms of the virus are spotted," Teodoro said.

Gabriela party-list Rep. Luzviminda C. Ilagan said if the cases are uncontrollable, then start of classes scheduled on June 1 should be postponed. "Better safe than sorry! But if cases are few, no need to postpone," Ilagan said.

The Department of Health announced Friday that the Philippines now has 14 confirmed cases of influenza A(H1N1) virus, but advised the public not to be alarmed even as it expects the number of cases to climb further.

In a press conference, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the Philippines has 14 confirmed cases of H1N1, up from 10 on Thursday, plus 27 new suspected H1N1 cases.

Duque said the 14 patients with H1N1 have "mild symptoms," and are responding positively to treatment. He said the Philippines still has no severe H1N1 case, and none of the patients has died.

The DOH said two of the new cases -- a two-year-old girl and a 20-year-old male -- had contact with a Taiwanese mother and her daughter at a wedding in Zambales last May 17.

Like most cases globally, Duque said the 14 cases in the Philippines are a "mild form of influenza."

Duque said that if he global consensus is that there is "no evidence of mutation" and that the virus is not virulent, then the DOH will be managing the virus as part of its "regular disease control program."

Duque also reiterated that the government will not postpone the opening of classes in the public schools on June 1 because there is still no indication that "there is already sustained community transmission" of the virus in the country.

He said the rapid increase in the number of cases of the virus worldwide is due to the "ease of [the virus'] transmission" and the "unrestricted flow of travelers."

Duque said the 14 cases are currently confined in designated health institutions in the country and all of them are responding well to treatment.