THE Lapu-Lapu City Government has suspended classes in public schools on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, due to heavy rains brought about by a low pressure area (LPA) looming in the country since Wednesday, Jan. 11.
In a statement posted on his official Facebook page on Wednesday, Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan said he decided to suspend classes in his city on Thursday due to the heavy rainfall warning issued by weather officials.
But Chan clarified that the class suspension is only applicable to public school students studying in the pre-school, elementary and high school levels.
For private schools, Chan said he is giving school administrators the discretion to suspend their classes or not.
But a day before Lapu-Lapu City suspended its classes, 19 local government units in Cebu Province had suspended classes on Wednesday, Jan. 11, because of the bad weather.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office identified these as the towns of Alegria, Argao, Bantayan, Barili, Compostela, Cordova, Daanbantayan, Madridejos, Medellin, Pilar, Poro, Ronda, San Remigio, San Francisco, Santander, Sta. Fe, Sogod, Tuburan and Tudela.
Some parts of the province have been subjected to heavy downpours brought about by a low pressure area (LPA).
In a separate interview, officials of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that the heavy rain being experienced in Cebu on Wednesday could persist until Friday, Jan. 13.
Engr. Al Quiblat, Pagasa Visayas weather chief, told SunStar Cebu, that the LPA spotted 475 kilometers East of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte as well as the shear line affecting Southern Luzon and Visayas could bring more heavy rains in Cebu until Friday.
Quiblat said that due to the heavy rains, they already issued an orange rainfall warning for the entire Cebu.
He, however, said that there will be an improved weather condition on Saturday, Jan. 14 and Sunday, Jan. 15, wherein the One Cebu Island Sinulog 2023 will take place at the South Road Properties in Cebu City.
Meanwhile, the city government of Talisay, southern Cebu has declared a suspension of classes on Thursday, Jan. 12, but not because of the bad weather. The city is set to observe its yearly Charter Day celebration on Thursday. (MKG, JKV, ANV / PJB)