Davao LGUs suspend classes, urges work-from-home due to Crising

DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio suspended all classes and the adoption of the full workfrom-home arrangement in all government offices on May 14 and 15 due to Tropical Storm “Crising.”

Duterte-Carpio, through Proclamation Order No. 1 issued on Thursday afternoon, May 13, declared the suspension of all public and private school classes from kindergarten to postgraduate studies.

The mayor also ordered the adoption of the full work-fromhome arrangement in all government offices, both national and local government offices, including government-owned and controlled corporations, except the safety and security, health, social services, and disaster offices who are performing emergency, disaster preparedness, and response duties and Covid-19 response and vaccination activities.

The same exception also applies to all employees performing emergency, disaster preparedness, and response duties and Covid-19 response and vaccination activities but are not under the offices enumerated above.

She said private offices and establishments may suspend work on the aforementioned dates at their own discretion.

Duterte-Carpio cited the issued Severe Weather Bulletin No. 3 from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) that Tropical Storm “Crising” with a tropical cyclone warning, indicating that the eye of the storm is estimated at 330 kilometers East of Davao City as of 10:00 a.m., at maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (km/h), gustiness of up to 80 km/h and moving West Northwestward at 10 km/h.

The same bulletin included Davao City in the areas where Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 is raised, given 30-60 km/h prevailing winds expected in 36 hours.

Pagasa also reported that impacts of the winds may include slight damage to houses made of very light materials and makeshift structures in exposed communities and that winds may also affect small trees and rice crops.

“The City Government of Davao is duty-bound to safeguard the welfare of the public and undertake measures to avert any untoward incidents or disasters that may be caused by Tropical Storm Crising,” Duterte-Carpio said in her order.

Panabo City Mayor Jose E. Relampagos has also declared the suspension of works and classes in all levels on May 14, 2021, due to Tropical Storm “Crising”.

An executive order has yet to be released,but he already ordered the following offices to be on alert: City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, City Health Office, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, City Engineering Office, the City General Services Office, and City Environment and Natural Resources Offices.