LIST: Class suspensions on Wednesday, August 21 due to volcanic smog

Residents go on their daily life amid volcanic smog or vog from Taal Volcano in Agoncillo, Batangas., on August 19, 2024 Classes were suspended on some towns in the province due to the vog. The observed Metro Manila “haze” is “likely due to local pollutants” and not vog from Taal Volcano, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines —  Classes in some schools in Luzon were been suspended due to then effects of volcanic smog from Taal Volcano.

Below is the list of areas that suspended classes in public and private schools:

Laguna

• Sta. Cruz

Rizal

• Jalajala

Last August 18, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council of Talisay, Batangas announced an “increased presence of volcanic smog (vog) in the area.”

“This is due to the ongoing degassing activity of Taal Volcano,” it said in a Facebook post.

Earlier, the Department of Education (DepEd) authorized schools in the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) region and Metro Manila affected by vog to suspend in-person classes even without an official announcement from their respective local government units.

The DepEd issued the directive on Monday through an advisory following Taal’s release of vog over the past 24 hours.

“To ensure learning continuity in affected areas, DepEd instructs schools to employ alternative delivery modalities such as modular or online learning,” DepEd said.

According to DepEd, the decision to lift the suspension will depend on “whether it is safe for learners and teachers to return” to their respective schools.