Classes suspended in some Metro Manila areas

Due to heavy rains spawned by typhoon "Kiko" (international codename: Morakot), private and public schools in Metro Manila suspended their classes Thursday noon, a television report said. QTV's Balitanghali reported that pre-school, elementary, and high school classes in are suspended in the cities of Taguig, Pasay, Caloocan, and Malabon and the municipality of Pateros. Navotas City had also suspended its elementary and high school classes, according to a separate Balitanghali report. Only public schools are suspended in Manila. As this developed, radio dzBB reported that pre-school, elementary, and high school classes are also suspended in Valenzuela City. The Department of Education's (DepEd) Information Office told GMANews.TV in a phone interview that the announcements were made by local governments and not by the agency. Earlier in the day, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said heavy rains would continue in Metro Manila, western Luzon and the Visayas until Saturday due to Kiko. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV