Floods swamp Metro; 4 cities suspend classes

City officials in Valenzuela and Taguig joined their counterparts in Mandaluyong and Manila in declaring a suspension of classes at the elementary and high school levels. In a 1 p.m. statement, the Valenzuela government said that, "Classes in elementary and high school, public and private in Valenzuela [have been] suspended as of 12:30 p.m. today (Thursday)." Taguig, Manila and Mandaluyong officials issued similar orders, but covered only primary and secondary levels at public schools. Valenzuela Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian said the decision to suspend classes in universities in his area was left to the discretion of the respective school administrators. "We have already called up the other private universities and told them to decide whether to send their students home," he said. Public information officer Marither Menia told GMANews.TV that classes continue in the city's eight private colleges and two state universities, which include the Pamantasang Lungsod ng Valenzuela and the Valenzuela Polytechnic College. Only the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has jurisdiction on whether to suspend classes in the tertiary level, Menia added. Gatchalian said that the decision to cancel classes in the city was delayed since he and other local city officials initially thought the rain would subside later in the day. However, the continuous downpour and reported cases of flash floods in some areas, prompted him to finally send students home. "We have many areas which were hit by floods. Especially during these times when rains suddenly pour, streets become flooded," Gatchalian said in Filipino. In a separate report on dzMM radio, the local governments of Parañaque, Navotas, and Quezon City had said they have no plans yet to cancel classes in their areas. The University of Santo Tomas (UST) has also suspended classes in the elementary and high school levels as well as in most of its colleges. However, the decision to suspend classes in three of the 19 colleges in UST was left to the discretion of their respective college deans. - GMANews.TV