Schools suspend classes due to water interruption

MANILA, Philippines - Classes were suspended in several schools in Manila due to the scheduled water interruption of utility provider Maynilad Water Services Inc.

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada declared class suspensions in several elementary and high schools from Aug. 11 to 12 and 17 to 18.

Bambi Purisima of the city’s public information office identified the schools as follows:

In Tondo (District 2), classes were suspended in Torres High School, Lakandula High School, Manuel L. Quezon High School, F.G. Calderon High School and F.G. Calderon Elementary School.

In Sta. Cruz and Binondo (District 3), classes were suspended in Teodora Alonzo High School, C. Arellano High School, Jose Abad Santos High School and Raja Soliman High School.

In the areas of Intramuros, Ermita, Malate, Paco and Port Area (District 5), classes were suspended in Manila Science High School, Manila High School, Araullo High School, Justo Lukban Elementary School, Aurora Quezon Elementary School and Epifanio de los Santos Elementary School.

Purisima added that about 100 trucks have been going around the city to provide water to citizens. Ration hours are at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Fire volunteers also sent fire trucks to augment the water supply of residents. Those in Barangay 737 said their first ration was provided by the Association of Volunteer Fire Chiefs and Firefighters of the Philippines Inc.

The Pasay City government has also announced the suspension of classes in all levels, in both public and private schools, starting yesterday until Thursday.

There was no suspension of classes in the cities of Parañaque, Las Piñas and Muntinlupa.

Several colleges and universities also suspended classes yesterday.

These include Adamson University, De La Salle University, Emilio Aguinaldo College, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Mapua Institute of Technology, Philippine Normal University (PNU), Philippine Women’s University and Technological University of the Philippines (TUP).

Classes remain suspended today at PNU and TUP.

Another service interruption

In an advisory, Manila Water Co. Inc. yesterday advised its customers in selected areas in Metro Manila and Rizal province to store enough water, as they will be experiencing water service interruption until Friday to give way to maintenance works.

Residents of barangays Banaba and Ampid 1 in Rizal, and of barangays Addition Hills, Mauway, Pleasant Hills and Malamig in Mandaluyong City will experience water service interruption from 10 p.m. yesterday until 6 a.m. today.

Residents of Burgos in Rizal province will be affected only until 3 a.m. today.

Manila Water also said those from South EE and Mother Ignacia in Quezon City should expect water service interruption starting 10 p.m. yesterday until 5 a.m. today.

Water interruption will also affect residents of barangays San Antonio, Ugong, Ocai and Kapitolyo in Pasig City, as well as parts of Highway Hills and Buayang Bato in Mandaluyong City starting 10 p.m. on Thursday until 6 a.m. on Friday. – With Perseus Echeminada, Janvic Mateo, Rhodina Villanueva