No classes, work in parts of Cagayan as Maymay brings heavy rain

Farm animal in Ilagan

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, Philippines — Tropical Depression Maymay on Tuesday dumped heavy rain on Cagayan Valley, prompting several local governments in the region to suspend classes and government work, officials said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) hoisted Signal No. 1 over the provinces of Isabela, Quirino, and Nueva Vizcaya. Also under Signal No. 1 were the provinces of Aurora and Nueva Ecija in Central Luzon, and the extreme northern part of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta), including the Polillo Islands.

In Cagayan province, the towns of Calayan, Santa Teresita, Aparri, Lal-lo, Buguey, Camalaniugan, Gattaran, Sanchez Mira, Claveria, Allacapan, Ballesteros, Gonzaga, Alcala, and Pamplona suspended in-person and online classes, mostly from preschool to high school.

Government work, except for emergency response, was also suspended in Santa Teresita, according to the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC).

Personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard assisted some residents of Barangay Balatubat in Calayan while crossing a swollen river as Maymay spawned torrential rains in the area.

Farmers in the Isabela capital city of Ilagan began taking their farm animals to higher ground due to the threat of flooding.In Nueva Vizcaya, the town of Alfonso Castañeda suspended classes from preschool to Grade 12 because of the heavy downpour.

Forecast

Maymay is projected to make a landfall in Aurora and Quezon on Wednesday based on its speed and track.As of 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Pagasa said Maymay maintained its strength while moving slowly west southwestward over the Philippine Sea east of Aurora.

According to the state weather bureau, Maymay was located 285 kilometers east of Aurora’s Casiguran town on Tuesday morning as it packed maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.

While still reeling from the destruction left by Supertyphoon “Karding” (international name: Noru) last month, residents in Aurora were again cautioned against strong winds and intense rains that Maymay was expected to trigger.

Aurora Gov. Christian Noveras convened on Tuesday the provincial DRRMC to prepare for the storm.

Three backhoes, three dump trucks and two payloaders were on standby in case of flooding and landslides in vulnerable areas in Aurora, according to the provincial government.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government in Central Luzon alerted officials of all provinces, towns and cities on the path of Maymay to prepare and start preemptive evacuations if necessary.

—REPORTS FROM VILLAMOR VISAYA JR. AND JUN MALIG 

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