MANILA, Philippines?(UPDATE 5) Classes at all levels in Metro Manila and the provinces of Rizal, Batangas, and Laguna have been suspended until Tuesday, September 29, due to the floods brought about by typhoon Ondoy, officials said Sunday.

The Commission on Higher Education suspended classes at the college level in Calabarzon (Region 4-A or the region made up of the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon).

?All classes at all levels in the National Capital Region and Rizal are suspended...Homes and access roads are still flooded. Some schools which are not flooded or damaged are being used as evacuation centers,? Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said in a statement.

Lapus said that, in other municipalities or areas, local government and school authorities could exercise judgment in suspending classes, depending on their local conditions.

The provinces of Batangas and Laguna announced the suspension of classes at all levels, but the two other provinces in Calabarzon, Cavite and Quezon, have not.

DepEd Region IV-A director Paraluman Giron also announced no classes at all levels in Cavite City.

?We ask the public to help instill orderliness and care of evacuation premises and properties. Magbayanihan po tayo (Let?s work together),? Lapus said.

In a text message, National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) spokesman Anthony Golez said the announcement came as several areas in the province of Rizal, particularly Cainta, remained submerged in floodwater.

Rizal Governor Casimiro Ynares III said about 80 percent of Cainta town remain under water to date.

At the same time, chairman Emmanuel Angeles of the Commission on Higher Education said presidents of colleges and universities in the provinces could also suspend their classes if necessary. He said his commission will not be open tomorrow as many of CHEd staff members were also affected by the typhoon and the floods.

Angeles also urged medical schools to organize their students and faculty members to help typhoon victims, especially in the capital.

?NCR (National Capital Region) was heavily affected and we are urging schools that teach nursing and medicine to organize teams to help the victims," said Angeles.

"We should do what we can and help each other at times like these," he added.

The suspension of classes came following the devastation wrought by storm Ondoy that submerged most parts of Metro Manila Saturday.

A number of areas especially in Cainta, Marikina, and Pasig are still under water as of Sunday.

Several schools are being used as evacuation centers of families displaced by the flooding.

In Caloocan, the Caloocan North Elementary School housed 140 families; Manuel L. Quezon Elementary School, 95 families; Manuel L. Quezon High School, 50 families; MB Asistio High School Main, 75 families; A. Mabini Elementary School, 45 families; Pag-asa Elementary School, 53 families; and Pag-asa Elementary School Unit I, 82 families, Lapus said.

In Parañaque, the Parañaque Elementary School served as evacuation center to 25 persons; Col. E. De Leon Elementary School, 200 persons; Baclaran Elementary School Unit II, 75 persons; La Huerta Elementary School, 126 families; and Parañaque National High School, 500 persons, Lapus added.

The flooding had left at least 52 people dead and hundreds of thousands homeless, prompting the government to declare a state of calamity in Metro Manila and 25 provinces.

Earlier, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim made the same announcement for his city. He said the suspension will allow schools to clean campuses affected by floods brought on by tropical storm Ondoy.