Classes in elem, secondary levels in Batangas still suspended –governor

Despite the lowering of the alert level status of Taal Volcano, classes in the elementary and secondary levels in the entire province of Batangas will remain suspended until further notice, the governor announced on Sunday.

In a press briefing, Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas said classes will remain suspended as schools continue to be used as evacuation centers.

“‘Yung ating mga elementary, high school, at ‘yung mga under ng Department of Education—meron pang mga daycare, kinder—ang mga ito ay suspended ang klase hanggang bigyan ng ulat uli na puwede na,” he said.

“‘Yung college and universities na nasa labas ng lockdown area, ang ating kautusan diyan, patuloy pa rin sila, walang pagbabago. Tuloy ang college, university, TESDA, lahat ng under ng Commission on Higher Education,” he added.

The provincial government earlier announced that classes would resume in colleges and universities outside the 14-kilometer danger zone.

Mandanas said around 50,000 evacuees are still using classrooms as evacuation centers.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, over 120,000 Batangueños are still taking shelter in 425 evacuation centers across the province as of Sunday morning.

Mandanas said that the provincial government is working to transfer evacuees from classrooms to new evacuation centers, adding that the municipality of Ibaan is prepared to welcome 10,000 evacuees.

The Alert Level over the Taal Volcano was lowered from Level 4 (hazardous eruption imminent) to Level 3 (decreased tendency towards hazardous eruption) on Sunday morning. —Julia Mari Ornedo/LBG, GMA News