Marikina under state of calamity; classes suspended until Friday

The local government of Marikina has declared a state of calamity throughout the city, and suspended classes in all levels, both in public and private schools, until Friday.

"State of Calamity declared by Marikina as announced by Vice Mayor Fabian Cadiz and Mayor Del De Guzman during ongoing disaster council meeting," said the Marikina City Public Infornation Office.

The announcement came as water level at the Marikina River was last measured at 16.8 meters from sea level as of 5:20 p.m. An Alert Level 2 (Prepare for Evacuation) remained in place in the city as of posting time.

At the same time, students and teachers will get to enjoy an unusually long weekend that will run until Monday next week, August 26, a regular holiday in observance of National Heroes' Day.

"#walangpasok Mayor Del declares NO CLASSES in ALL LEVELS, both public & private tomorrow upto Friday," the Marikina PIO tweeted.

The class suspension would come as most public schools in the city, along with several public gymnasiums, village halls, and multi-purpose halls, were being used as evacuation sites for the thousands of residents who were forced out of their homes by the swelling of the Marikina River.

Marikina River swelled due to incessant monsoon rains in the last four days that were intensified by Tropical Storm Maring.

As of posting time, 5,265 families or 27,344 persons were seeking shelter inside 22 evacuation centers in the city.

1. Nangka Elementary School - 769 families
2. Nangka Covered Court - 776 families/3428 persons
3. Old Brgy Hall of Nangka - 23 families/199 persons
4. St. Mary Elem. School - 0 families/0 persons
5. Parang Gymnasium - 148 persons
6. Parang Elem. School - 3 families/12 persons
7. H. Bautista Elem. School - 775 families/3,785 persons
8. Concepcion Elem. School - 350 families/1,898 persons
9. Marikina High School - 195 families/836 persons
10. Concepcion Integrated School - 524 families/2,197 persons
11. Malanday Elem. School - 1,481 families/10,157 persons
12. Sto. Niño Elem. School - 110 families/539persons
13. Tañong High School - 0 families/0 persons
14. Barangka Elem. School - 0 families/0 persons
15. Filipinas Village (Malanday) - 186 families/938 persons
16. Libis Bulelak Gymnasium - 180 families/1,055 persons
17. Sampaguita Village - 176 families/861 persons
18. Dela Peña Multi-Purpose Hall - 0 (transferred to Leodegario Victorino Elem. Sch)
19. Fairlane Gymnasium - 64 families/205 persons
20. Marikina Elem. School - 34 families/ 199 persons
21. Leodegario Victorino Elem. School - 151 families/651 persons
22. Campo De Boro (Malanday) - 0
23. Kalumpang Elem. School - 33 families/131 persons
24. San Roque Elem. School - 46 families/195 persons

— Mark Merueñas/KBK, GMA News