(UPDATE) MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Friday ordered government offices and classes in both public and private schools to shift to alternative delivery or work-from-home mode in the National Capital Region (NCR) and 12 other provinces due to the heavy rains brought about by the southwest monsoon of “habagat” but left it to the discretion of local governments to determine whether to suspend work and classes altogether.
Memorandum Circular 126 covers NCR, Zambales, Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, Laguna, Quezon, and Occidental Mindoro.
The order was based on the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and followed the heavy rainfall warnings issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
The memorandum, however, states that agencies responsible for basic and health services, disaster preparedness and response, and other vital public operations will remain fully operational to ensure continuous service delivery.
Earlier on Friday, Metro Manila and several provinces in Luzon affected by monsoon-induced rains had suspended classes.
In Metro Manila, in-person classes for both publc and private schools have been suspended in the cities of Valenzuela (all levels), Pasig (Kindergarten to Senior High School (K-12), Day Care (Early Childhood Development Center) and Alternative Learning System), Mandaluyong (pre-school to Grade 12, and Alternative Learning System), Manila (Kinder to Senior high school), Malabon (All Levels), Marikina (All Levels), San Juan (All Levels), Pateros (from Child Development Centers to Senior High School) and Las Pinas (All levels).
In Cavite, classes are suspended in the cities of Bacoor (All levels), Dasmarinas (All levels), Cavite (all Levels), Imus (all levels), Trece Martires (all levels), General Trias (all levels) and the towns of Kawit (all levels), Naic (all levels), Tanza (all levels), Noveleta (all levels), Maragondon (all levels), Amadeo (All levels), Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo (all levels), Ternate (all levels), and Rosario (all levels),
Baguio City has also suspended classes from pre-school to kindergarten for both public and private schools.
In Bulacan, the towns of Angat, Balagtas, Baliwag, Bulakan, Bustos, Guiguinto, Hagonoy, Malolos, Meycauayan, Norzagaray, Obando, Pandi, Paombong, Plaridel, Pulilan, San Jose del Monte, San Rafael, and Santa Maria have declared suspensions for all levels both public and private, while Bocaue, San Ildefonso and San Miguel have suspended classes up to Senior High School only for both public and private schools.
