The government is still figuring out the best approach to deal with class suspensions due to bad weather, a Malacañang official said on Tuesday.

 

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the local government units (LGUs) have to improve their system of announcing class suspensions during bad weather conditions.

 

"This is part of the learning curve. Ang ibang LGUs natutong mag-respond agad ... Patuloy ang pag-improve, siguro may learning curve," he said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

Many LGUs have started to announce class suspensions the night before, when there is no storm signal that will automatically merit class suspensions.

 

On Monday night, many LGUs, including Valenzuela City and towns in Bulacan, Laguna and Cavite, declared class suspensions for Tuesday.

 

However, there were still some LGUs that announced class suspensions past 5:00 a.m., way after the 4:00 a.m. cutoff.

 

"You have to (make) the announcement before 4:00 a.m.," Lacierda told LGUs.

 

On the other hand, he said the Palace also expects the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to improve its weather forecasting.

 

He said PAGASA had not anticipated a monsoon surge that brought heavy rain on Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

 

"We have to continuously improve our system, it's far from perfect," he said.

 

Meanwhile, Lacierda said the government will continue to make announcements not only on new media such as Twitter but on traditional media such as radio and TV.

 

"Hindi lahat may capacity magkaroon ng BlackBerry o Twitter," he said. - VVP, GMA News