TAGUM CITY—The local government units of Compostela Valley and Tagum City have declared a suspension of classes effective Wednesday afternoon in all levels for both public and private schools as a safety precaution due to Tropical Depression Quennie.
“With the province under Public Storm Weather Signal #1 due to TD Queenie, all classes in all levels of private and public schools were suspended effective today [November 26],” said Gov. Arturo Uy, adding that “classes will only resume when conditions clear up.”
Tagum City Mayor Allan Rellon, in a Memorandum Order No. 312, s. of 2014 issued Wednesday evening, also ordered suspension of classes in both private and public schools in Tagum City.
Rellon said the order is “to ensure the safety” of the public, adding that it will remain effective until PAG-ASA lifted the public storm warning.
As this developed, the Davao del Norte’s Provincial Reduction Risk and Disaster Management Council (PDRRMC) is on “code yellow” while monitoring the said typhoon.
In Davao City, while no public weather storm signal, the Central 911 emergency unit as of Wednesday afternoon is on alert Level 1, prompting the emergency responders to do equipment checking while monitoring the development of weather conditions.
The Office of Civil Defense 11 in its weather bulletin issued 4:30 p.m said that tropical storm warning remained hoisted in 19 areas as announced earlier by PAG-ASA., specifically in: Surigano del Norte, Siargao Island, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, Dinagat Island, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon, Zamboanga del Norte.
In Visayas, Southern Leyte, Bohol, Southern Cebu, Negros Oriental, Southern Negros Occidental and Siquijor while in Luzon, Palawan including Calamian Group of Islands.
Executive Order No. 66, signed by President Aquino, prescribed the rules on the cancellation or suspension of classes and work in government offices due to typhoons, flooding, other weather disturbances, and calamities.
Section 1 of Executive No. 66, provided that when Signal No. 1 or Signal No. 2 or Signal No. 3 is raised by PAGASA, classes at the pre-school level, in the affected area, shall be automatically cancelled or suspended.
Under the same Executive Order, the local chief executives, as chairpersons of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (LDRRMC), in coordination with PAGASA and the NDRRMC, can declare localized suspension of classes and work in government offices.(davaotoday.com)
