LUCENA CITY — Classes in public and private schools in Quezon province were suspended on Tuesday, Oct. 22, due to bad weather brought by Tropical Storm Kristine.
Gov. Angelina Tan, in her order issued on Monday afternoon, said classes from Kindergarten to Grade 12 were automatically suspended in areas with storm signals based on Department of Education (DepEd) Order No. 37 issued in 2022.
The DepEd order said class suspensions for online and face-to-face classes at 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.
Tan said local chief executives in areas without typhoon signals could also choose to suspend classes due to inclement weather.
She has also raised the alert status of the provincial disaster management operation center to “code blue” after Kristine entered the Philippine area of responsibility.
A blue alert status means that all Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council personnel and equipment are on standby in an emergency.
On Monday, the Philippine Coast Guard in Quezon suspended sea travel for all vessels due to rough sea conditions.
The Pagasa in its 5 a.m. bulletin said Kristine intensified into a tropical storm early Tuesday, prompting them to raise Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 over 24 areas nationwide.
TWCS No 1 is hoisted in the northern and eastern portions of Quezon that cover the towns of Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Buenavista, San Narciso, San Andres, General Nakar, Pitogo, San Francisco, Calauag, Pagbilao, Infanta, Lopez, Catanauan, Mulanay, Unisan, General Luna, Plaridel, Quezon, Alabat, Sampaloc, Padre Burgos, Macalelon, Mauban, Perez, Agdangan, Gumaca, Atimonan, Real, Lucban, Lucena City and Tayabas City including Polillo Islands.
The center of Kristine was last located 390 km east of Virac, Catanduanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and gustiness of up to 80 kph. It was moving westward at 15 kph.