The Department of Education (DepEd) and local officials announced class suspensions Monday in most parts of Metro Manila and some nearby areas due to heavy rains spawned by tropical storm Gener and the southwest monsoon.
According to the Twitter account of DepEd, kindergarten to high school classes are suspended in the cities of Manila, Navotas, Pasay, and Malabon.
In Quezon City, San Juan, Valenzuela and Caloocan, classes from kindergarten to high school in all public and private schools are also suspended, according to advisories from their respective local government units.
In the city of Makati, classes are suspended up to the college level in both public and private schools, the local government announced.
Although there are no storm warnings for metro Manila, the weather bureau has alerted residents of heavy rainfall of up to 20 mm per hour within the 700-km diameter of tropical storm Gener, which is ravaging northern Luzon.
At 12:30 a.m. Monday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) issued a red warning for metro Manila signifying intense rain in the next three hours that are likely to cause floods in low-lying areas, especially near rivers.
Pagasa also said the La Mesa Dam was nearing its critical spilling level, and advised residents around it to prepare for evacuation.
Nearby provinces
Classes are also suspended in all levels in Obando, one of the low-lying areas in Bulacan, the DepEd said.
In Cainta, Rizal, which experienced heavy rains reaching nearly 20 mm hour at around midnight that were expected to continue for the next three hours, classes were suspended in all public and private schools from pre-school to high school levels, the Cainta Local Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Office said.
In Angono, Rizal, Mayor Gerardo Calderon also announced the suspension of classes from pre-school to secondary levels in all public and private schools.
In Dasmariñas, Cavite, classes from pre-school to high school levels are also suspended, Mayor Jenny Barzaga said. In Carmona, Cavite, Mayor Dahlia Loyola also suspended classes.
Private schools
New Era University and Miriam College in Quezon City announced class suspensions from the pre-school to high school levels.
Meanwhile, Ateneo de Manila University announced that it will issue an advisory at 4:30 am.
At the University of Santo Tomas, both classes and work were suspended Monday.
"Due to continuous rains and flooding in many areas of Manila, classes in high school, college and graduate levels, as well as work operations are cancelled today July 30, 2012," according to the UST Office of the Secretary-General in a post of the UST official Facebook account.
Growing list of areas and campuses with class suspensions
ANGONO & TANAY, RIZAL - Classes suspended from Pre-school to High School
PARANAQUE - All classes on Monday, July 30 are declared suspended in Paranaque in all levels including college private & public due to rains, wind, and floods. Please pass. - Mayor Jun Bernabe
PASIG - Classes in all levels in Pasig City suspended, says Mayor Bobby Eusebio
TAGUIG - Mayor Cayetano suspended classes in Day Care, Pre-School, Elem, HS levels, including Taguig City University.
MUNTINLUPA - Classes suspened from Pre-school to College
MARIKINA - Pre-School to High School in both public and private
RODRIGUEZ, RIZAL - Classes suspened from Pre-school to College
PASIG - Classes suspened from Pre-school to College
LAGUNA - Gov. Ejercito suspends classes both public and private from pre-school to high-school
SCHOOLS:
Ateneo De Manila - For Loyola Schools, announcement will be made at 4:30AM if classes will push through.
Miriam College - CSC, Grade School to High Scool
University of the East - Classes are suspended from preschool to high school in Manila and Caloocan.
New Era University - Pre-school, elementary, and HS classes for New Era U are suspended tomorrow, July 30. No announcements yet for college level.
Malabon National High School and Malabon Elementary Schools - Classes Suspended
St. Paul's University, Quezon City - No Classes in all levels
University of Santo Tomas - Work and classes in all levels are suspended.
De La Salle University (Taft, Makati, Ortigas campuses and College of St. Benilde) - Classes in all levels and all office operations suspended.
source: gmanetwork.com
