Eight towns in provinces of Pangasinan and Ilocos Norte canceled the opening of classes on Tuesday due to the effects of the southwest monsoon or habagat enhanced by Typhoon Goring. The Pangasinan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said classes did not push through in Bolinao (preschool to elementary), Mangaldan (pre-school to college), Manaoag from (preschool to senior high school), and Rosales (all levels). In an interview, Pangasinan PDRRMO operations and training head Vincent Chu said the cancellation of classes were localized and left to the discretion of the local government units (LGUs) as the weather condition in the different parts of the province varies. ‘Sometimes it is raining hard in the western part while it is not in the eastern part of the province or the other way around,’ he said. The habagat, however, he said, will still bring scattered rains and thunderstorms to the province in the next two days based on the forecast of the weather bureau. Chu said the PDRRMO is still on red alert due to Goring and is also monitoring another weather disturbance that might enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility in the coming days. ‘Based on the situational reports from the LGUs, there are still no flooded areas and there were no pre-emptive evacuees. The only flooded area is in the central business district of Dagupan City but the roads are passable and it is due to the high tide,’ he said. Although there was no gale warning hoisted, sailing and swimming are discouraged for the safety of the fisherfolk and the residents as well as tourists, respectively, he said. ‘It is expected that waves are high due to the weather disturbance,’ he added. Chur said rescuers and the rescue equipment were on standby. ‘The San Roque Dam and the river systems in the province are still at normal level,’ he said. In Ilocos Norte, Solsona town mayor Joseph De Lara canceled classes from pre-school to secondary level, both in private and public schools, on Tuesday afternoon, due to the danger posed to students attending school, most especially those who need to cross rivers and landslide-prone areas. Dingras Mayor Joefrey Saguid, Carasi Mayor Robella Gaspar, and Batac City Mayor Albert Chua all followed suit and suspended classes in all levels from preschool to secondary level in their respective municipalities. According to the weather bureau, typhoon Goring has escalated in intensity, bringing heavy to at times intense rains which may trigger possible flash floods or landslides in this part of Luzon. As a proactive measure, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in these areas has recommended the suspension of classes for the safety of younger learners. People living in low-lying areas are also advised to be vigilant as rivers and tributaries along Bulu, Banban, Bacarra, Vintar, Laoag and Quiaoit in Ilocos Norte as well as in lower Abra, Silay-Sta. Maria, and Buaya in Ilocos Sur may be affected. In Batac City, heavy equipment are prepositioned near the Quiaoit River and the Batac-Banna road in Barangay Naguigarangan. If heavy rainfall continues, the Batac City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management advised the public to “take precautionary measures especially those living in the mountain slopes and low-lying areas to preemptively evacuate’ as soon as possible.
Source: Philippines News Agency