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Friday, November 16, 2007
Classes suspended in metro areas due to floods
MANILA –- The continued downpour on Thursday that flooded most of the streets in Metro Manila led to the suspension of classes in elementary and high school, both in public and private schools, in the cities of Manila, Pasay, Mandaluyong, Valenzuela, Taguig, and Parañaque.
Local authorities in the areas announced the suspension of classes late Thursday morning following indication that heavy rains will continue for the rest of the day.
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Officials of the University of Sto. Tomas (UST), on the other hand, suspended classes in the afternoon in all levels as rains flooded the areas near the school.
Earlier, the city governments of Mandaluyong and Manila suspended classes in all of its public schools at the elementary and secondary levels due to heavy rains and flooding.
Mandaluyong Mayor Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr. ordered the suspension of classes starting at noon. The suspension however does not cover private schools and the morning session of classes in public schools.
Abalos said private school administrators have the discretion of declaring whether or not to send pupils home.
There are 16 elementary and five high schools in Mandaluyong.
In Manila, City Administrator Jesus Marzan said the suspension order took effect 10:30 a.m. Thursday.
He added that free transport services are extended by the Manila City Government to stranded commuters.
Public transport trucks were deployed after lunch to pick up commuters in major loading areas in the city such as Quiapo and Lawton.
Education Secretary Jesli Lapus reiterated that mayor and local education and school officials can suspend classes in their areas as the case maybe.
In Valenzuela and Parañaque, Mayors Sherwin Gatchalian and Jun Bernabe, respectively, announced the suspension of classes in their respective areas of jurisdiction.
Valenzuela public information officer Marither Menia said classes continue in the city's eight private colleges and two state universities, which include the Pamantasang Lungsod ng Valenzuela and the Valenzuela Polytechnic College, because only the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) has jurisdiction on whether to suspend classes in the tertiary level.
Menia said the decision to cancel classes in Valenzuela was delayed since Gatchalian and other city officials initially thought the rain would subside later in the day.
However, the continuous downpour and reported cases of flashfloods in some areas prompted the local chief executives to finally send students home.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reported gutter-deep floods in Quezon City, Manila, and Pasay on Thursday morning.
As of 9 a.m. Thursday, the MMDA said areas with gutter-deep floods included the corner of E. Rodriguez Boulevard and Araneta Avenue in Quezon City; and Quezon Avenue near Plaza Miranda in Quiapo in Manila.
Also flooded was the southbound portion of Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (Edsa) and Zamora Street in Pasay City near the Metropoint mall.
Likewise flooded was the approach to the Magallanes area in Makati City.
The MMDA also reported flooding in "traditionally" flood-prone areas in Manila such as Dimasalang, Dapitan, España, Maceda, Claro M. Recto Avenue and parts of Quiapo and Divisoria as well as in the Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela) area.
Flooding in these areas has subsided at 4 p.m., said the MMDA. (AH/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Davao. (November 16, 2007 issue)
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