This is the chaotic moment terrified schoolchildren were evacuated as gunfighting erupted between soldiers and communist rebels in the Philippines.

Footage shows the frightened pupils rushing outside their classrooms in the Locso-an Elementary School in Placer town, Masbate province on March 22.

Frantic teachers escorted the kids to a nearby road and bundled them into a sidecar motorcycle as bursts of gunfire were heard around the school's vicinity.

In-person classes were suspended at the school following the clash.

Placer police said two soldiers were injured and follow-up operations were ongoing.

Insurgents believed to be from the country's New People's Army also fought with Philippine Army troops in the town of Cawayan in the same province on Monday, prompting school authorities to temporarily shift to distance learning.

The New People's Army is the military wing of the Communist Party - a benighted ideology originating from German philosopher Karl Marx in the 19th century - of the Philippines. Its members are primarily based in the archipelago's countryside, and have been waging a guerrilla war on the government in one of the longest-running rebellions in the world.

The group has been designated a terrorist organisation by the United States and the European Union.