DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Third update at 7:32 am, originally posted at 7:14 am)— Persistent rains in the city prompted the Office of the president to order on Thursday the cancellation of classes in Davao City.
City Information Officer Jefry Tupas relayed the Palace’s instruction to media around 6:00 am.
“Due to persistent rains prevailing in the City of Davao, the Office of the President ordered the cancellation of classes on all public and private primary and secondary levels today,” the message reads.
Tupas added that the Department of Education was already informed of the order.
As of this writing, DepEd has not yet issued an official announcement.
The suspension covers both public and private schools.
As of its 5 am weather forecast, Pagasa said the rains in Mindanao is caused by a tail end of a cold front.
Because of this, Mindanao is expected to experience moderate to heavy rains with thunderstorms in Caraga, Davao Region and Socsksargen.
Pagasa also posted in its general flood advisory for region 11 that under present weather conditions, tail-end of a cold front affecting Mindanao, northeast monsoon is affecting Luzon and Visayas. The 24 hour rainfall forecast is heavy rains and water courses likely to be affected:
- Compostela Valley – Rivers and its tributaries particularly Matibo and Hijo.
- Davao Del Norte – Rivers and its tributaries particularly Tagum-Libuganon, Tuganay, Saug and Lasang.
- Davao Oriental – Rivers and its tributaries particularly Catul, Dapras, Bangaga Mahaneb, Manurigao, Caraga, Casaunan, Quinonoan, Bugnan-Mayo, Bitanayan and Sumlog.
- Davao Del Sur – Rivers and its tributaries particularly Davao, Talomo, Lipadas, Tagulaya-Sibulan, Digos and Padada-Mainit
Pagasa recommends “people living near the mountain slopes and in the low lying areas of the above mentioned river systems and the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils concerned to take appropriate actions.”
Pagasa also raised red warning in Davao City as of 6:40 am. The public is warned of serious flooding in low-lying areas and landslides in mountainous areas.
Orange rainfall warning is raised in Compostela Valley, Davao Occidental and Davao del Sur.
Meanwhile, yellow rainfall warning is raised in Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur and Agusan del Norte. (davaotoday.com)
