MANILA, Philippines (16th UPDATE) – Several local government units (LGUs) and school officers in Metro Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Laguna, Rizal have suspended Monday classes due to heavy rains.
The Department of Education (DepEd), LGU officers and school personnel said classes from preschool to high school (and in some colleges), both public and private, are suspended in the following cities and towns:
- Quezon City
- San Juan
- Navotas
- Manila
- Pasay
- Caloocan
- Malabon
- Valenzuela
- Mandaluyong
- Marikina (preschool to college)
- Muntinlupa (preschool to college)
- Taguig (pre-school to high school, plus Taguig City University)
- Makati (pre-school to college)
- Pasig (pre-school to college)
- Parañaque (pre-school to college)
- Las Piñas (pre-school to college)
- Obando, Bulacan
- Malolos, Bulacan
- Meycauayan, Bulacan
- Tanay, Rizal
- Cainta, Rizal
- Antipolo City, Rizal
- Rodriguez, Rizal (pre-school to college)
- Bacoor, Cavite
- Dasmariñas City, Cavite
- Carmona, Cavite
- Imus, Cavite
- Kawit, Cavite
- Magallanes, Cavite (pre-school to college; public and private)
- Naic, Cavite
- Laguna
- Batangas City, Batangas
- Balayan, Batangas
- Tuy, Batangas
- Lian, Batangas
- Taal, Batangas
- San Pascual, Batangas
- Balete, Batangas
- Talisay, Batangas
- Sasmuan, Pampanga
La Mesa Dam
Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista suspended classes due to heavy rains that have filled up La Mesa Dam in Balara.
Authorities have raised the red alert warning over La Mesa Dam, and Bautista has ordered the evacuation of residents affected by the dam's overflow.
The La Mesa Dam manager said 8 barangays near Tullahan River have been alerted and pre-emptive evacuation has been recommended.
As of 6 a.m., La Mesa Dam’s water level had already reached 79.85 meters or just below its spilling level of 80.15 meters.
Colleges, universities
With respect to classes in colleges and universities in Quezon City, Quezon City Hall urged tertiary schools to coordinate with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), or they may suspend classes in their respective institutions if they deem it necessary.
St. Paul University in Quezon City suspended classes in all levels due to persistent rains. The college retreat is moved to Tuesday.
De La Salle University (DLSU) announced the suspension of college and graduate classes affecting their Taft, Makati and Ortigas Extension campuses. Offices at DLSU are also suspended.
Other tertiary schools which suspended classes are:
- Arellano University (all campuses)
- Asia Pacific College
- Centro Escolar University (all campuses)
- City College of Manila
- Colegio de San Juan de Letran
- De La Salle-College of St. Benilde (including offices)
- De La Salle University Dasmariñas (classes and offices)
- De La Salle University - Taft (including graduate school; classes in Makati and Ortigas extension campuses; offices)
- FTI College – Marikina
- Miriam College (all levels, offices)
- National College of Science and Technology (Dasmariñas and General Trias)
- National University
- Navotas Polytechnic College
- Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
- Philippine Christian University (all levels, including graduate school, College of Law and offices)
- Philippine School of Business Administration
- Polytechnic University of the Philippines (all campuses in Metro Manila)
- St. Scholastica's College - Manila (all levels)
- St. Mary's College-Quezon City (all levels, offices)
- Sta. Cecilia College – Valenzuela
- St. Paul College - Quezon City
- STI College – Recto
- University of Asia and the Pacific
- University of Sto. Tomas (all levels, offices)
- University of the East (Manila and Caloocan campuses)
- University of the Philippines - Manila
Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU), however, will have classes on Monday. Only those below college level do not have school on Monday.
Red alert warnings
PAGASA raised a red warning over Metro Manila at 12:30 a.m. Monday. Intense rains were forecast for the next 3 hours and floods were already affecting low-lying areas, especially those near rivers.
A red alert warning has also been raised over Ipo Dam in Bulacan. The water level was at 100.60 meters, just below the 100.80 to 101 meter spilling level.
Tropical storm Gener
Based on PAGASA's 11 p.m. weather bulletin, tropical storm Gener had intensified further and was moving in a north northwest direction.
At 10 p.m., PAGASA said the center of the strom was 340 kms. east northeast of Aparri, Cagayan.
It had maximum sustained winds of 105 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kph.
It was forecast to move north northwest at 13 kph.
Gener was expected to be 210 kms northeast of Basco, Batanes by Monday evening and 330 kms north northeast of Basco, Batanes by Tuesday evening, PAGASA said.
The storm was seen to be outside the Philippine Area of Responsiblity by Wednesday evening.
As of 11 p.m., the provinces of Isabela, Kalinga and Apayao were under Signal 1 (30-60 kph winds expected in the next 36 hours), and the areas of Cagayan, Calayan and Babuyan islands, and Batanes group of islands were under Signal 2 (winds of 61-100 kph in at least 24 hours).
Gener was expcted to bring rains over central and southern Luzon and Visayas (especially the western section) and northern Mindanao, PAGASA said.
PAGASA forecast intense rainfall of 10-20 mm per hour within the 700 km diameter of the tropical storm.
Fishing boats and small seacrafts in affected areas were warned not to venture out to sea. -- with reports from Jacque Manabat, Jeff Canoy, ABS-CBN News; ANC; DZMM
