Pampanga LGUs suspend classes amid rains

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - Most of the local government units (LGUs) in the province have suspended classes mid-day yesterday due to the onslaught of heavy rains.

The cities of Mabalacat and San Fernando, and municipalities of Magalang, Floridablanca, Guagua, Lubao, Porac, Sta. Rita, Sasmuan, Sta. Ana, Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin, San Luis, Sto. Tomas and San Simon called off afternoon classes in all levels yesterday noon.

Likewise, classes from pre-elementary to senior high school in Apalit and Mexico towns, pre-elementary to elementary in Candaba town were also suspended.

The suspension of classes were called as precautionary measures for the expected heavy rains brought by tropical depression Henry backed by the southwest monsoon which will pose danger to students, the local chief executives noted on their orders.

Meanwhile, 25 coastal villages in Macabebe and Masantol towns — 16 in Masantol and nine in Macabebe — are experiencing one foot to two feet of flooding based on the report

of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDDRMO) yesterday noon.

Three villages in Lubao town namely Bancal Pugad, Bancal Sinublu and Sta. Tereza II are also submerged in deeper three to four feet of floodwaters as of yesterday noon, the PDRRMO report furthered.

Citing the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration forecast, PDRRMO noted that the province is expected to experience moderate to heavy rains brought about by Henry and southwest monsoon until today.

With this, the PDRRMO Operations Center will remain activated and has prepositioned disaster response equipment and manpower on stand-by 24/ 7, while all city and municipal DRRMOs were advised to conduct activation, close monitoring of their areas of responsibility, quick and timely reporting for possible effects.