Classes in Metro Manila suspended starting 12 noon

MANILA, Philippines—Afternoon classes in the National Capital Region (NCR) have been suspended after the state-run weather bureau predicted that moderate to heavy rainfall may be expected in the region, an official from the Department of Education said Wednesday.

In a telephone interview, DepEd Undersecretary Teresito Umali said that classes in the preschool, elementary and high school levels in all public and private schools in Metro Manila have been suspended.

Umali said that the suspension came after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) predicted that Metro Manila will experience the same amount of rainfall that it had Tuesday.

Classes were also suspended on Tuesday due to heavy monsoon rains enhanced by a low pressure area near Ilocos Sur which triggered massive flooding in the region. According to Pagasa, as of Wednesday morning, the low pressure area was seen 70 kilometers southwest of Sinait, Ilocos Sur.

In a separate statement, the DepEd said that as of 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, the mayors of San Pablo, Laguna, and Alitagtag and Taal in Batangas have likewise suspended classes in preschool, elementary and high school levels in all schools in their areas.

Originally posted at 10:55 am | Wednesday, August 3, 2011