Storm Gorio disrupts classes

MANILA, Philippines -  Tropical Depression Gorio intensified into a storm and brought heavy rains, prompting local government officials to suspend classes in many parts of the country yesterday.

Chris Perez, senior weather specialist at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said most parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila, would continue to experience occasional to frequent rains in the next three to five days due to the combined
 effects of Gorio and the  enhanced southwest monsoon.

“Residents of Luzon, especially those who reside in low-lying areas, should brace for possible flashfloods and landslides,” he added.

The enhanced southwest monsoon would dump rains over the western section of Luzon, while Gorio would bring rains over the eastern section.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, yellow (heavy) rainfall warning was raised over Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Pampanga, Bulacan, Zambales, Bataan and Tarlac.

The center of Gorio was spotted at 615 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora, packing winds 75 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 90 kph as of 3 p.m. It is forecast to move northward at 13 kph.

No tropical cyclone warning signal was raised as of yesterday afternoon.

Perez said Gorio is expected to develop into a severe tropical storm within the next 48 hours.

“In the next 24 hours, we expect it to continue its northward track toward the eastern seaboard of Taiwan. Still a no-landfall scenario at the moment,” he said.

The storm is projected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Sunday evening or Monday morning.

Photo shows students of Araullo High School going home early after classes were suspended due to Tropical Storm Gorio. EDD GUMBAN

Yesterday afternoon PAGASA advised outdoor advertisers in Metro Manila, Cavite and Laguna to roll down billboard tarpaulins due to expected strong winds from the southwest monsoon this weekend. 

These areas could expect winds of 45 to 55 kph by tomorrow, Perez said in a press briefing.

The local governments of Caloocan, Malabon, Cavite, Bataan, Olongapo and Subic in Zambales, and Baliuag, Bulacan suspended classes at all levels yesterday.

Classes up to high school were suspended in Manila, Navotas, Quezon City, Valenzuela City, San Fernando in Pampanga and San Mateo in Rizal.

Under the guidelines issued by the Department of Education, classes are automatically suspended if an area is placed by the weather bureau under a cyclone warning signal.

Local government executives can also issue class suspensions when no cyclone warning signal is raised within their respective jurisdictions.

Gorio is the seventh tropical cyclone to enter the country this year and the third disturbance this month.  –  With Janvic Mateo, Ghio Ong, Jose Rodel Clapano