Palace: Gov’t work resumes Tuesday

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang announced on Monday night that work in government offices in the country will resume on Tuesday, December 9, 2014.

“No suspension of work in government offices for tomorrow, Dec. 9, 2014. Stay safe everyone!” Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte posted on her official Twitter account.

Valte made the announcement after work in government offices and classes in all levels in the National Capital Region, Region 4-A (Calabarzon), and Region 4-B (Mimaropa) was suspended on Monday in anticipation of the heavy rains and strong winds brought by Tropical Storm “Ruby (international name: Hagupit) in these areas.

Ruby with maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour and gusts of 100 kph made landfall in Laiya, Batangas at 5:45 p.m.

More than 2,800 villagers moved to emergency shelters in San Juan, a low-lying and flood-prone town popular for its beach resorts, including 220 people huddled inside a gymnasium as torrential rains pounded.

“It’s really scary if you’ve watched what happened during Haiyan,” said Amy de Guzman, a 34-year-old mother of three who sought refuge in the gymnasium. “I hope the storm blows away from here as far as possible.”

The Philippine Red Cross reported that the storm left at least 21 people dead. With a report from Associated Press

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