MANILA, Philippines — Rainfall alerts were raised in Metro Manila and several provinces on Friday, as classes were suspended due to the southwest monsoon or "habagat."
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) placed Metro Manila under yellow alert while the towns of Cabangan, Botolan, Subic, San Antonio, San Marcelino, Castillejos, San Narciso, San Felipe, Olongapo in Zambales and Morong, Dinalupihan, Hermosa in Bataan are under red alert.
Meanwhile, the provinces of Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan and several towns in Zambales(Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig, Santa Cruz, Iba), Bataan(Abucay, Bagac, Balanga, Limay, Mariveles, Orani, Orion, Pilar, Samal) and Nueva Ecija(San Antonio, Cabiao, San Isidro, Gapan, General Tinio, Penaranda, Jaen, San Leonardo, Guimba, Santo Domingo, Quezon, Licab, Zaragoza, Aliaga, Santa Rosa, Cabanatuan, Gabaldon, Laur, Palayan, Bongabon, Rizal, General Mamerto Natividad, Llanera, Talavera) are under orange rainfall warning.
Aside from Metro Manila, the province of Rizal and the towns of Carranglan, Cuyapo, Lupao, Nampicuan, Pantabangan, San Jose, Munoz, and Talugtug in Nueva Ecija are under yellow alert.
Residents in areas under rainfall alerts are advised of the likelihood of floods.
Class suspensions
In announcements over their official social media pages, Manila, Caloocan, Malabon, Quezon City, Valenzuela, Marikina, San Juan, Paranaque, Las Pinas, Muntinlupa, Taguig, Mandaluyong, Pasay, and Navotas suspended classes in all levels both public and private.
Pateros and Pasig City suspended classes from Kinder to Senior High School for both public and private, while Makati City only suspended classes in all levels for public schools. Private schools, it said, have the discretion to make the call.
Meanwhile, the following towns in Bulacan have suspended classes for both public and private in all levels. These are Balagtas, Bocaue, Bulakan, Bustos, Calumpit, Guiguinto, Hagonoy, Malolos, Marilao, Meycauayan, Norzagaray, Obando, Pandi, Paombong, Plaridel, Pulilan, San Ildefonso, San Jose del Monte, San Miguel, and Santa Maria.
Baliwag is celebrating its annual feast of St. Augustine, which is a local holiday.
The entire province of Tarlac and Apalit in Pampanga also suspended classes in all levels.
Meanwhile, the towns of Tanza, Bailen (Gen. E, Aguinaldo), and Rosario in Cavite suspended classes in all levels, while Indang suspended classes in the preschool to elementary levels.
The following towns in Pangasinan also declared suspensions for all levels in both public and private schools: Alaminos, Agno, Anda, Bani, Bolinao, Burgos, Dasol, Infanta, Mabini, Sual, Aguilar, Binmaley, Bugallon, Lingayen, Mangatarem, Urbiztondo and San Carlos City
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