Palace: No gov’t work in Regions 1, 2, 3, CAR Monday due to ‘Lando’ 

Residents huddle together under their umbrellas as strong winds and slight rain are brought by Typhoon ‘Lando’ Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015 in Manila, Philippines. The slow-moving typhoon blew ashore with fierce wind in the northeastern Philippines early Sunday, toppling trees and knocking out power and communications. Officials said there were no immediate reports of casualties. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

MALACAÑANG on Sunday evening announced that work in government offices in Regions 1, 2, 3 and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) will be suspended on October 19, Monday as typhoon “Lando” (international name: Koppu) continues to hover over northern Luzon.

In a statement, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that the suspension of work in government offices in those regions was implemented with the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

“Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., following the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, is suspending work in government offices on October 19, 2015 in Regions 1, 2, 3 and CAR only, due to the effects of Typhoon Lando,” Lacierda’s statement read.

The Palace spokesperson said that government personnel who are involved in the “delivery of basic and health services, disaster and emergency response as well as other vital services” are required to report to work on Monday.

According to the 5 p.m. weather bulletin issued by state weather agency Pagasa, Lando still packs maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of 185 kph.

Public storm warning signal 3 is hoisted in 11 areas: Nueva Ecija, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Kalinga, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, and Zambales.

Signal no. 2 is still up in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Bataan, Rizal, Northern Quezon including Polilio Islands, Cagayan including Calayan and Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Aurora, Abra, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte.

Meanwhile, signal no. 1 is raised over Batanes, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and rest of Quezon.