MANILA, Philippines – Classes in 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).
“In view of the forecasted continuous rainfall brought about by the Southwest Monsoon and Typhoon “Carina,” work in government offices and classes at all levels in the National Capital Region are hereby suspended at 05:00 a.m. 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,” 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 Tarlac, Laguna, Batangas and Quezon province (General Nakar, Infanta, Real, Mauban, Sampaloc).
An orange rainfall warning indicates an expected rainfall of 15 to 30 millimeters (mm) 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 (kph) and gustiness of up to 190 kph.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 is up over Batanes.