Classes suspended in Metro Manila’s elementary and high schools—DepEd

MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE 2) Due to continuous rain caused by Low Pressure Area (LPA), classes in all public and private schools at the National Capital Region are suspended today (Thursday), Department of Education (DepEd) Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali said in an interview in “Dyaryo Sa Radio” program of 990 AM early Thursday morning.

The suspension covers pre-school, elementary and high school levels.

“We’ve coordinated with Pagasa [Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration] and we were advised the heavy rains could continue today so even if there’s no storm signal yet, the weather might cause flood and pose danger to our students,” said Umali in Filipino in a phone interview.

He added the decision to suspend classes in other affected areas like Bulacan, Pampanga and nearby provinces in the Calabarzon area – Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon – will depend on DepEd’s regional directors and respective local government officials.

“We are currently coordinating with our regional directors,” Umali said at 4:45 a.m. Thursday.

As of 5:27 a.m., it was reported that classes in all levels in public and private schools in Batangas City and Bauan town in Batangas province are also suspended.

Below is a DepEd list of the areas where classes are suspended.

REGION 3

• Limay, Bataan
• Balanga, Bataan
• Pariahan Elementary School and Don Isidoro Teodoro HS in Bulacan, Bulacan
• Obando, Bulacan
• Malolos City (afternoon classes of pre-school and elementary)
• Angeles City
• Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan

REGION 4-A
• Batangas City
• Calaca, Batangas
• Taal, Batangas
• Bauan, Batangas
• Lemery, Batangas
• Kawit, Cavite
• Rosario, Cavite
• 6 schools only in Bacoor, Cavite
• Sangley Elementary School in Cavite City
• Lucena City
• Antipolo City
• San Pablo City
• Alaminos, Laguna
• Caparitan Elementary School, Bay, Laguna
• San Mateo, Rizal

REGION 4-B
• Lubang Occ Mindoro

School officials in some areas also suspended classes in their locale but were not included in the list, DepEd said.

According to Pagasa’s website, as of 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, the LPA “was estimated based on satellite and surface data at 50 km Northwest of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro (13.7°N, 120.6°E) embedded along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting the country.” Totel V. de Jesus, INQUIRER.net

Originally posted at 5:11 am | Thursday, June 9th, 2011