Rains, floods hit CL, Calabarzon
Heavy monsoon rains that pounded Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog overnight since Monday inundated low-lying areas and posed a higher risk of landslides yesterday, causing a mass suspension of work and classes,
In Pampanga, Governor Lilia G. Pineda ordered the suspension of classes as a precautionary measure, as rivers and low-lying areas in the province have accumulated floodwaters brought about by the rains dumped by tropical depression “Henry,” which already exited yesterday, and the southwest monsoon or “habagat.”
Pineda said classes in all levels, both in public and private schools in the towns of Sasmuan; Minalin; San Simon; Sto. Tomas; Guagua; and Lubao were suspended.
Classes in pre-elementary to high school levels, meanwhile, were suspended in the towns of Apalit and Mexico.
In Bataan, Governor Abet Garcia suspended classes in all levels, both in public and private, as well as work in government offices – except those involved in disaster risk and management.
In Mariveles, Bataan also suspended classes in all levels due to bad weather.
He also saw through the evacuation of 118 individuals from low-lying areas to safer ground. “Please take all necessary precautions,” said Garcia to the public.
In Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino also suspended classes in all levels, both in public and private schools.
In Bulacan, Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado also ordered the suspension of classes in all levels both in public and private schools were suspended in the towns of Marilao; San Miguel; Norzagaray; Obando; and Calumpit while in the cities of Meycauayan; San Jose del Monte; Malolos; also afternoon classes in the towns of Pulilan; Angat and Guiguintoclasses were suspended from pre-elementary to high school levels, both in public and private.
In the afternoon, the governor suspended all classes and government offices.
In Zambales, classes in all levels, both in public and private, were suspended in the towns of San Antonio; Sta. Cruz; Iba; San Felipe; San Narciso; Castillejos and Subic.
Pre-elementary to senior high school classes in public and private schools, on the other hand, were suspended in the towns of Botolan and Cabangan.
The Laguna Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) said 14 towns had to suspend classes in all levels due to rains and flooding. These included the areas of Pakil, Pagsanjan, Pangil, San Pedro, Magdalena, Los Banos and Lumban.
Meanwhile, disaster and emergency response teams were closely monitoring the Laguna Lake following the sudden rise of water in Marikina River.
In a post on the social media page of the Angono Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (ADRRMO), Eng. Arnold Pinon, who is in charge of the town's rescue office said that the water from Marikina River flows into the Laguna Lake and Manggahan Floodway.
The water level along Marikina River rose to as high as 15.3 meters at 1:30 p.m. (With reports from Mar T. Supnad, Freddie C. Velez, Nel B. Andrade, and Danny J. Estacio)