THE Department of Education (DepEd) reiterated on Sunday, September 25, 2022, the issuance of Order No. 37 or the guidelines on the cancellation or suspension of classes and work in schools during disasters and natural calamities.
Under DepEd Order No. 37 series of 2022, in-person and online classes at all levels, including in alternative learning systems, as well as work in public schools are automatically suspended when:
*The area was placed by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5
*The area was issued with a yellow, orange or red rainfall warning
*The area was issued with a flood warning
*The area was hit by an earthquake of above magnitude five as declared by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
When classes are already ongoing at the time the warning was issued, students must immediately be sent home unless the school administration deems it unsafe.
“In the event of canceled or suspended classes, modular distance learning, performance tasks, projects or make-up classes shall be implemented to ensure that learning competencies and objectives are still met,” the order reads.
The prescribed school days during the School Year 2022-2024 are 203.
Private schools and community learning centers as well as state or local universities and colleges have the option to abide by the provisions of the said department order.
As of 11 a.m., the Pagasa hoisted Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal (TCWS) number 5, the highest storm signal in the country, in Polilio Islands and the extreme northern portion of Quezon due to Super Typhoon Karding (international name Noru).
Pagasa said the potential impact of winds in these areas which are expected within 12 hours is an “extreme threat to life and property.”
As of 10 a.m., Karding was 175 kilometers (km) East of Infanta, Quezon.
Packed with maximum sustained winds of 195 km per hour (km/h) near the center, gustiness of up to 240 km/h, and central pressure of 920 hPa.
“Super Typhoon Karding intensifies further as it moves westward towards the northern portion of Quezon – southern portion of Aurora,” said Pagasa.
Signal No. 4
The following provinces/areas were under TCWS number 4:
*Calaguas Islands
*The southern portion of Aurora (San Luis, Dingalan, Baler, Maria Aurora)
*The northern portion of Quezon (the rest of General Nakar, the rest of Infanta, Real), the southeastern portion of Nueva Ecija (Gabaldon, General Tinio, City of Gapan, Peñaranda)
*The eastern and central portions of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, Norzagaray, San Miguel, San Ildefonso, San Rafael, Angat, City of San Jose del Monte)
*The northeastern portion of Rizal (Rodriguez, City of Antipolo, Tanay, San Mateo, Baras), and
*The extreme northern portion of Laguna (Famy, Siniloan, Santa Maria, Pangil)
TCWS no. 4 poses storm-force winds that could bring significant to severe threat to life and property within the next 12 hours.
Signal No. 3
Placed under TCWS No. 3, where gale-force winds could lead to moderate to significant threat to life and property within 18 hours, were the following areas:
*The central portion of Aurora (Dipaculao)
*The southeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castaneda, Dupax del Sur, Dupax del Norte)
*The rest of Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, the rest of Bulacan, Pampanga, Zambales, Bataan, Pangasinan, Metro Manila, the rest of Rizal
*The northern and central portions of Laguna (Mabitac, Pakil, Paete, Kalayaan, Lumban, Cavinti, Pagsanjan, Luisiana, Majayjay, Magdalena, Santa Cruz, Pila, Liliw, Nagcarlan, Victoria, Rizal, City of San Pedro, City of Biñan, City of Santa Rosa, Cabuyao City, City of Calamba, Los Baños, Bay, Calauan)
*The northeasternn portion of Cavite (Bacoor City, Imus City, Kawit, City of Dasmariñas, Carmona, Gen. Mariano Alvarez, City of General Trias, Rosario, Silang)
*The rest of the northern portion of Quezon (Infanta, Real, General Nakar, Mauban), and the northern portion of Camarines Norte (Vinzons, Paracale, Jose Panganiban, Capalonga)
Signal No. 2
Under TCWS No. 2 were:
*The southern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue, San Guillermo, Echague, San Agustin, Jones), Quirino
*The rest of Nueva Vizcaya
*Benguet
*La Union
*The rest of Aurora
*The rest of Cavite
*Batangas
*The rest of Laguna
*The central portions of Quezon (Calauag, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Sampaloc, Lucban, City of Tayabas, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Padre Burgos, Atimonan, Agdangan, Unisan, Plaridel, Gumaca, Lopez, Pitogo, Dolores, Candelaria, Sariaya, Tiaong, San Antonio, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, Buenavista)
*The rest of Camarines Norte, the northern portion of Camarines Sur (Del Gallego, Ragay, Lupi, Sipocot, Libmanan, Pamplona, Pasacao, San Fernando, Pili, Minalabac, Ocampo, Tigaon, Cabusao, Magarao, Gainza, Canaman, Camaligan, Milaor, Naga City, Bombon, Calabanga, Tinambac, Siruma, Goa, Lagonoy, San Jose, Garchitorena, Presentacion, Caramoan, Sagñay), and
*Catanduanes
Karding is expected to produce gale-force winds, which may bring minor to moderate threats to life and property in these areas within 24 hours.
Signal No. 1
Areas under TCWS No. 1 were:
“The southern portion of Cagayan (Tuao, Solana, Enrile, Tuguegarao City, Iguig, Peñablanca)
*The rest of Isabela
*The southern portion of Apayao (Conner)
*Kalinga
*Abra
*Mountain Province
*Ifugao
*The southern portion of Ilocos Norte (Nueva Era, Badoc, Pinili, Banna, City of Batac, Currimao, Paoay, Marcos)
*Ilocos Sur
*The rest of Quezon
*The northern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Abra de Ilog, Paluan, Mamburao, Santa Cruz)
*Lubang Islands
*The northern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Baco, City of Calapan, Naujan, Victoria, Pola, Socorro, Pinamalayan)
*Marinduque
*The rest of Camarines Sur
*Albay
*Sorsogon
*Burias Island
*Ticao Island
Landfall
Pagasa said Karding, the 11th weather system to enter the country, will likely make landfall in the vicinity of the northern portion of Quezon or the southern portion of Aurora on Sunday evening.
However, the possibility for Karding to make landfall or close approach in the vicinity of Polillo Islands in the afternoon of Sunday is not ruled out.
“For the remainder of this evening post-landfall through tomorrow early morning, Karding will traverse the landmass of Central Luzon and emerge over the West Philippine Sea via the coastal waters of Zambales or Pangasinan. The typhoon will then continue tracking generally westward over the West Philippine Sea for the remainder of the forecast period,” said Pagasa.
“Karding is forecast to continue intensifying and may make landfall at or near a peak intensity of 185-205 km/h. Frictional effects during landfall and traverse of the Luzon landmass will weaken Karding throughout the evening through tomorrow early morning, although it is highly likely that this tropical cyclone will remain a typhoon while crossing the landmass,” it added. (SunStar Philippines)