Quezon province map. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
LUCENA CITY – Classes in public and private schools in Quezon province were suspended on Wednesday, April 12, due to bad weather brought by Tropical Depression Amang.
The Quezon provincial disaster risk reduction and management office (PDRRMO), in reply to an online query, said classes from Kindergarten to Grade 12 and Alternative Learning System were “automatically suspended” in areas with storm signals based on Department of Education Order No. 37 issued in 2022.
The DepEd order said class suspensions for online and face-to-face classes in all levels are automatically suspended once the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) issues any tropical cyclone wind signal, an orange or red rainfall warning, or a flood warning.
Schools are also required to suspend classes if Pagasa raises any of the mentioned signals or warnings in the middle of the class day, the DepEd added.
In the same guidelines, local chief executives can also choose to suspend classes due to inclement weather.
Some local government officials in the province suspended classes on Tuesday, April 11.
The Pagasa, in its Wednesday 8 a.m. bulletin, said Amang was last located over the coastal waters of Virac, Catanduanes with maximum sustained winds of 45 kph and gustiness of up to 55 kph.
Tropical Wind Signal No. 1 remains hoisted in Quezon province and in other areas along the typhoon’s path.
On Tuesday, Quezon Governor Angelina Tan ordered all local governments to prepare all precautionary measures to protect residents and properties against the effects of Amang.
Tan said local government officials should order pre-emptive evacuation if necessary and should not wait for worse weather condition before doing so.
The PDRRMO advised the public to take all safety measures against the impacts associated with the typhoon, which include flash floods and landslides.
On Tuesday, the Philippine Coast Guard in Quezon also suspended sea travel for all vessels due to the approaching weather disturbance.
The suspension order covers sea travel from Lucena City port to Marinduque, Masbate, and Romblon.
Sea travel from Atimonan and Gumaca port to Alabat island, as well as from Real port to Polillo group of islands, has also been suspended.
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