Work in gov’t offices, classes in Metro Manila suspended on Wednesday

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MANILA, Philippines – Classes at all levels and work in most government offices in Metro Manila are suspended on Wednesday due to inclement weather, according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

Because of the forecast continuous rainfall brought about by the Southwest Monsoon and Typhoon Carina, work in government offices and classes at all levels in Metro Manila were suspended at starting at 5 a.m. Monday (today), 24 July 2024, as recommended by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the PCO said in an early morning bulletin.

“Government agencies involved in the delivery of health basic ad services, preparedness/response to disasters and calamities, and/or the performance of other vital services shall continue with their operations and render the necessary services,” the PCO added.

Suspension of work for private companies and offices is left to the discretion of management.

The Office of the Executive Secretary made the announcement after the Palace suspended classes and government work in Metro Manila on Tuesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the state weather bureau has already issued a red rainfall warning in Metro Manila, Rizal and Bataan due to serious flooding expected in flood-prone areas.

Areas under red warning are forecast to experience over 30 millimeters (mm) of rain in the next two hours, with possible flooding in flood-prone areas

An orange rainfall warning, meanwhile, was raised in Bulacan, Pampanga, Cavite and Zambales, while a yellow warning is up over the provinces of Tarlac, Laguna, Batangas, and Quezon (specifically in General Nakar, Infanta, Real, Mauban, Sampaloc).

An orange warning indicates an expected rainfall of 15 to 30 millimeters and “threatening” chances of flooding.

A yellow warning means 7.5 to 15 mm of expected rainfall, with “possible flooding in flood-prone areas.”

As of 4:00 a.m., Carina was last spotted 290 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour and  gustiness of up to 190 kph.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 is up over Batanes.