Caloocan suspends classes in elementary, high school

MANILA, Philippines - The city government of Caloocan on Wednesday morning also ordered the suspension of second shift and afternoon classes in public and private elementary and secondary schools amid the heavy downpour that hit Metro Manila early in the day. City administrator Russel Ramirez told radio dzBB they decided to cancel classes starting 10 a.m. onwards upon consultation with local Education officials. Earlier, the Malabon City ordered suspended classes in all levels due to floods caused by a heavy downpour since early Wednesday morning. Radio dzBB reported that as of 9 a.m., the city government issued the order covering both private and public schools in the city. In Navotas City, the city government suspended the classes at the elementary and high school levels in private and public schools starting noon. However, classes at the City College of Navotas were not suspended, the report said. The city of Manila, through its administrator Jesus Mari Marzan, ordered elementary and high school afternoon classes in the city suspended due to the floods. "Kanselado ang klase sa elementary at high school simula 12 noon (Elementary and high school classes in the elementary and high school are suspended starting noon)," Marzan said in an interview on dzBB radio. He said this order covers private and public schools. In an earlier interview with radio dzBB, Teresita Domalanta, Department of Education-National Capital Region director, said they leave to the school officials and local authorities the decision to suspend classes since no signal warning has been raised in Metro Manila. "Sa ngayon po dahil wala tayong signal, usually pag walang signal discretionary ito sa part ng local governments at school officials natin (When no storm warning signal is raised, it is discretionary to the local governments and school officials if they will suspend the classes)," Domalanta said. She added that they are now monitoring the situation and waiting for the updates from the local government units on the situation in their respective jurisdictions. "Actually nakamonitor na tayo at maga-update sila kasi iba-iba ang sitwasyon sa iba't ibang lugar ng Metro Manila (We are monitoring the situation and they will give us updates as different cities in Metro Manila have different situations)," Domalanta added. As of 5 a.m., the provinces of Isabela, Cagayan, the Calayan Group of Islands, Apayao, Batanes and Ilocos Norte are under signal number 2. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical services Administration (Pagasa) raised signal number 1 in Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Aurora and Ilocos Sur. In its weather bulletin, Pagasa said tropical storm Helen had intensified slightly as it continues to move closer to the Cagayan area. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV