Capitol suspendsgovernment work due to Typhoon Henry

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO— Governor Lilia Pineda issued an executive order yesterday suspending government work in the Provincial Government of Pampanga and other national government agencies in the province.

Governor Pineda invoked Section 16 of the local government code that enabled the suspension citing public health and safety due to the rains brought by Typhoon Henry.

The suspension included district and provincial hospitals in Pampanga but the order required the operation of skeletal forces in front line services of the government and hospitals to ensure the delivery of important services.

Most towns in Pampanga have also declared suspension of classes yesterday. Classes in Porac, Lubao and Mexico and the Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University also suspended classes in all levels on Tuesday including Wednesday.

Tropical Storm Henry (international name: Matmo), the eighth tropical cyclone to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) this year, has strengthened into a typhoon on Saturday.

The southwest monsoon, or habagat, enhanced by Henry will continue to bring monsoon rains over Metro Manila, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Mindoro provinces, Palawan, and Western Visayas.

The southwest monsoon will also bring scattered rains and thunderstorms over the rest of the country.

Residents of low-lying and mountainous areas are advised to be cautious about possible flooding and landslides, Pagasa said.

Sea travel remains risky over the western seaboard of Southern Luzon.