BY IME SORNITO and GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
ILOILO City – Eight municipalities in Iloilo province suspended classes in both public and private schools yesterday due to heavy monsoon rains. The city government here did the same.
The class suspensions in the towns covered all levels – preschool, elementary and high school – according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).
The eight municipalities were Leganes, Pavia, San Joaquin, Miag-ao, Santa Barbara, Zarraga, Alimodian, and Leon.
“They experienced torrential monsoon rains enhanced by tropical depression ‘Egay,’” said Dr. Jerry Bionat, PDRRMO chief.
Schools reported getting flooded.
“Egay” remained almost stationary yesterday northeast of Aparri, Cagayan as it continued to enhance the southwest monsoon bringing moderate to at times heavy rains over most parts of Western Visayas and Luzon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
In this city,Mayor Jerry Treñas suspended classes in preschool, elementary, high school and senior high school levels in all public and private schools. He cited the Pagasa weather advisory.
School children, he stressed, are vulnerable and must be protected from danger, flooding, sickness, and injuries that may be caused by the inclement weather.
In tertiary schools, Treñas said, suspending classes was the call of school administrators.
“Egay” was last spotted 195 km east northeast of Aparri, Cagayan or 205 km east of Calayan, Cagayan yesterday. It had maximum winds of up to 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 60 kph.
But “Egay” might weaken into a low-pressure area within 12 to 24 hours, according to Pagasa.
In Iloilo province, PDRRMO’s Bionat said because it is now the rainy season, parents must make sure their children have umbrellas, raincoats and hats when going to school.
He also reminded fishermen to be cautious. Do not venture out too far in the sea, he stressed.
To households near coastlines, riverbanks and hilly areas, be wary of possible landslides, said Bionat.
In Iloilo City, Treñas tasked the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to continue monitoring weather updates from Pagasa and disseminate them to the public.
Also, he put on standby “response clusters” for any emergencies./PN
