Classes suspended in Paeng-hit areas

MANILA, Philippines — Classes will remain suspended this week in several areas hit by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng to allow the rehabilitation and cleanup of schools.

In their respective posts on Facebook, Governors Ramil Hernandez of Laguna and Jonvic Remulla of Cavite announced the suspension of classes in all levels in public and private schools until Saturday.

Antique Gov. Rhodora Cadiao had earlier issued an executive order suspending classes in all levels until Nov. 6 as some schools in the province are still being used as evacuation centers.

Cadiao stressed the need to also prepare for the possible effects of Tropical Depression Queenie, which has weakened as it approached Eastern Visayas.

Classes in all levels in Cotabato City, which experienced widespread flooding last week, were suspended until Nov. 5.

In Batac, Ilocos Norte; Vigan, Ilocos Sur; Aparri, Tuguegarao, Amulung, Enrile, Gattaran, Lal-lo and Solana in Cagayan; Malolos, Bulacan; Laurel, Batangas, and Pigcawayan, Cotabato, classes in all levels were suspended yesterday.

The Office of Civil Defense in Cagayan Valley said some of the schools are still being used as evacuation centers while some incurred damage due to flooding.

Classes from kindergarten to senior high school in Hagonoy, Bulacan and Masantol, Pampanga were suspended until Friday.

Classes in public kindergarten to senior high school were automatically suspended in Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Southern Leyte and Leyte, which were under orange and red rainfall alert issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

The Department of Education has yet to announce if makeup classes will be implemented in areas where classes were suspended.

The school calendar includes buffer days in cases of class suspensions.

Under previous guidelines, schools were allowed to implement other activities to make up for the days covered by class suspensions. – Jun Elias