Classes in all levels suspended in Cebu due to floods

Cebu City truck ferries passengers left stranded by flooding. Doris C. Bongcac / Inquirer Visayas

CEBU CITY — Classes in elementary and secondary schools in Cebu city and province were suspended on Thursday morning after floods hit several areas of Cebu due to incessant rains spawned by Tropical Storm “Mario” that started late Wednesday night.

“We want to be safe,” said Carmelita Dulangon, Department of Education in Central Visayas who announced the suspension of classes at 6:30 a.m., after receiving reports that floods had reached to waist deep in some areas.

Several colleges also announced the suspension of classes due to the floods. These include the University of San Carlos, University of the Philippines Cebu College and Cebu Doctor’s University.

Suspension of classes at the college level is left to the discretion of college administrators.

Dulangon said safety of the students should come first following the death of three students of Argao town who drowned in a flashflood on September 8.

“We have to suspend classes so the children would not be forced to cross the floods and would end up not be able to go home,” she said.

She also sent text messages to school divisions in the provinces of Siquijor, Bohol and Negros Oriental to ask for the situation there so a decision could be made on whether to suspend classes.

It started to rain in Cebu about 11 p.m. on Wednesday and continued until Thursday morning.

Tropical storm Mario was located 460 kilometers east of Catarman town in Northern Samar as of 4 a.m. with sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour and gustiness of 80 kph.

Several vehicles were stranded along AS Fortuna Street in Mandaue City after floods went up to knee deep.

A portion of Jakosalem Street in front of the gate of the Archbishop’s residence was submerged in floodwaters.

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