DepEd: Afternoon classes in NCR suspended due to storm

Citing bad weather conditions caused by Tropical Storm Pedring (international name: Nesat), the Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday suspended afternoon classes in the preschool, elementary and high school levels in private and public schools in Metro Manila. In an interview over radio dzBB, DepEd Metro Manila director Elena Ruiz said, "Dahil sa magiging masama [ang lagay ng panahon] pagdating ng hapon, pinapasya namin sa NCR na suspendihin ang klase simula 12 ng araw na ito." She said the decision was made after DepEd coordinated with the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), which had forecast heavy rain in Metro Manila from Monday afternoon until Tuesday.

Decision on college class suspension Meanwhile, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said the decision to suspend college and university classes due to bad weather lies on the school officials. CHED executive director Julito Vitriolo said their protocol is to allow colleges and universities to decide on class suspensions. "Sa atin, base sa ating protocol, nasa heads of institutions ng colleges and universities ang discretion dito (Our protocol calls for heads of institutions to have the discretion of suspending classes for the day)," Vitriolo said in an interview on dzBB radio. The CHED automatically suspends classes at the college level only upon Storm Signal No. 3. However, there is no storm signal yet over Metro Manila. Vitriolo advised heads of tertiary level schools to keep watch over the situation in their respective areas. "Tingnan nila mabuti ang situation sa kanilang lugar, sila na magpasya kung kailangan pauwi nang maaga," he said. Areas under storm signals Earlier, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said Tropical Storm Pedring showed signs of intensifying into a typhoon as it moved toward the Aurora-Isabela area Monday. DOST Undersecretary Graciano Yumul Jr. said some areas may be placed under Storm Signal No. 3 before the day is over. Meanwhile, according to PAGASA, the following areas are under storm signals: Storm Signal No. 2 (as of 5:00 a.m. Monday):

Isabela

Aurora

Catanduanes

Polillo Island

Camarines Norte

Camarines Sur Storm Signal No. 1:

Albay

Burias Island

Sorsogon

Quezon

Quirino

Ifugao

Nueva Vizcaya

Mt. Province

Kalinga

Cagayan — RSJ/VVP, GMA News