Palace suspends college classes, govt office work in NCR, 9 nearby provinces

Malacañang has suspended college-level classes and work in government offices Tuesday in the National Capital Region and the provinces of Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite, and Rizal.   Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said in Memorandum Circular No. 33 isued early Tuesday that he suspended the classes and work in government offices upon the advice of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and “in view of the continuing inclement weather brought about by southwest monsoon (habagat).”   The directive does not cover, however, agencies that render “vital public services” and “whose functions involve the delivery of basic and health services, preparedness/response to disasters and calamities.”