(UPDATE) MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang ordered the suspension of work in government offices and classes at all levels across the National Capital Region (NCR) and 20 provinces on Thursday, due to continued heavy rains brought by Tropical Storm "Maymay" and southwest monsoon or “habagat.” The directive was signed by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, which was based on the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
The suspension covers NCR along with the provinces of Ilocos Sur, La Union, Benguet, Pangasinan, Abra, Zambales, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Nueva Vizcaya, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, and Occidental Mindoro.
Meanwhile, government agencies responsible for delivering basic and health services, disaster preparedness and response, and other vital public operations are directed to continue functioning to provide necessary assistance.
Senate suspends work
In an advisory, Senate Secretary Renato Bantug said that Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian ordered the suspension of work at the upper chamber following Malacañang's memorandum cancelling government work in Metro Manila and 20 other areas on Thursday.
"In view of Memorandum Circular No. 122 issued on 5 August 2026 by the Office of the President, which suspends work in government offices in Metro Manila today on account of the forecast of heavy rainfall due to Super Typhoon 'Maymay' and the Southwest Monsoon, Senate President Sherwin T. Gatchalian has ordered the suspension of work at the Senate today, Thursday, 6 August 2026," Bantug said.
‘Maymay’s’ path
Tropical Storm Maymay crossed Northern Luzon after it made landfall in Magsingal, Ilocos Sur earlier on Thursday and continues to enhance the southwest monsoon or “habagat,” causing heavy rains in other parts of the country, including Metro Manila, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
In its 8 a.m. bulletin, Maymay is now in the vicinity of Bangued, Abra and is moving slowly eastward at 10 kilometers per hour (kph), carrying maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 110 kph.
Signal No. 2 is up over Ilocos Norte, the northern and central portion of Ilocos Sur (Gregorio del Pilar, Magsingal, San Esteban, Banayoyo, Cervantes, Burgos, City of Candon, Santa Lucia, Santiago, San Vicente, Santa Catalina, Lidlidda, Nagbukel, Sinait, Suyo, Sigay, San Ildefonso, Galimuyod, Quirino, City of Vigan, San Emilio, Cabugao, Caoayan, San Juan, Santa, Bantay, Santo Domingo, Tagudin, Santa Cruz, Santa Maria, Narvacan, Salcedo), the western portion of Apayao (Conner, Kabugao, Calanasan), Abra, the western and central portion of Kalinga (Pasil, Tinglayan, Balbalan, Lubuagan, Pinukpuk, City of Tabuk, Tanudan), and the western and central portions of Mountain Province (Besao, Tadian, Bauko, Sagada, Sabangan, Bontoc, Sadanga, Barlig, Natonin).
These areas can expect 62-88 kph winds in the next 24 hours.
Signal No. 1, meanwhile, is up over the rest of Ilocos Sur, La Union, the northwestern portion of Pangasinan (Bolinao, Anda, Bani), the rest of Apayao, the rest of Kalinga, the rest of Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, the southern portion of Babuyan Islands (Calayan Is., Dalupiri Is, Fuga Is., Camiguin Isl.), mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, and the northern and central portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao).
Winds of 39 to 61 kph are expected in the next 36 hours in these areas.
"Maymay" dumped 100-200-millimeter rainfall in the areas of Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, and Benguet, while 50-100 mm in the areas of Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Kalinga, Nueva Vizcaya, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, and Bulacan.
It is expected to move toward the coastal waters of Palanan, Isabela by 5 p.m. while weakening into a tropical depression and may exit the Luzon landmass around 5 a.m. as a low pressure area.
The southwest monsoon rains will also affect Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Occidental Mindoro where 50-100 mm rainfall is expected..
