ILOILO City – Classes today in this southern city, several towns in Iloilo and Antique, and the whole Guimaras were suspended due to inclement weather.
Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry P. Treñas yesterday approved the suspension of face-to-face classes from preschool to senior high school in both public and private schools due to inclement weather brought by the southwest monsoon or habagat enhanced by Typhoon “Goring.”
As chairman of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC), Treñas said this is to ensure the safety and general welfare of the children and the residents of the city.
Also cancelled was the flag-raising ceremony for the city hall employees.
In Iloilo province, as of 8 p.m. yesterday, among the LGUs that suspended classes for today due to inclement weather were Ajuy, Barotac Nuevo, Cabatuan, Janiuay, Maasin, and Pavia.
For Antique, classes in all levels for both public and private schools were suspended in Barbaza, Laua-an, Tobias Fornier, Belison, Libertad, Patnongon, Hamtic, Valderrama, and Culasi.
Moreover, acting governor, Vice Gov. John Edward Gando, announced last night that classes in all levels for both public and private schools in Guimaras were cancelled today.
Gando, in a Facebook post, said that the heavy rainfall, coupled with strong winds, placed the province under red rainfall warning, which means flooding and landslides may occur, especially in low-lying areas.
He added that several schools and localities in Guimaras were inundated yesterday.
Typhoon “Goring,” though it has weakened since Sunday from a super typhoon, maintained its strength yesterday afternoon as it continued to move north over the Philippine Sea, according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the center of Goring’s eye was estimated to be 260 kilometers (km) east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, with the storm bearing maximum sustained winds of 155 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 190 km/h as it moves northward at 15 km/h.
Enhanced by the typhoon, the habagat meanwhile will bring occasional or monsoon rains over the western portions of central Luzon, southern Luzon, and Visayas over the next three days, PAGASA said.
“Goring” is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday morning or afternoon./PN
