CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Classes in some schools in Central Luzon on Tuesday remained suspended as several areas in the region are still flooded due to the southwest monsoon rains.
Governor Albert Garcia declared the suspension of classes in all levels for both public and private schools in the entire province of Bataan as he advised the residents to stay safe and take all necessary precautions.
The suspension of classes in all levels for both public and private schools in Pampanga was also extended as some parts in the province are still submerged in floodwater.
Likewise, classes in all levels for both public and private schools in two highly urbanized cities in the region— Angeles and Olongapo — are still suspended.
Meanwhile, localized suspension of classes were declared in the provinces of Bulacan, Tarlac, Zambales and Nueva Ecija.
In Bulacan, the suspension of classes in all levels for both public and private schools were extended in the towns of Baliwag, Obando, San Ildefonso, Pulilan, San Miguel, Bulakan, Balagtas, Guiguinto, Marilao, Calumpit, Bocaue, Sta. Maria, Hagonoy, San Rafael, Pandi, Norzagaray, Bustos, Dona Remedios Trinidad, Paombong, Plaridel and cities of Malolos, San Jose Del Monte, and Meycauayan.
The municipal government of Angat, on the other hand, declared the suspension of classes from pre-elementary to senior high school levels, both in public and private schools.
In Zambales, only the municipal government of Subic declared the suspension of classes in all levels for both public and private schools.
In Tarlac, classes in the pre-elementary to senior high school levels for both public and private schools were suspended in Camiling town.
In Nueva Ecija, classes in all levels for both public and private schools are still suspended in Sto. Domingo town.
Based on the latest report of the Office of the Civil Defense – 3, there are 208 villages in Pampanga and Bulacan affected by floods.
In Pampanga, there are 136 barangays hit by floods the towns of Masantol, 26; Macabebe, 25; Guagua, 18; Lubao, 15; Sasmuan, 12; Minalin, 8; San Simon, 6; Candaba,5; Apalit, 4; Floridablanca, 4; San Luis, 3; Bacolor, 2; Arayat,2; City of San Fernando, 2; Mexico, 1; Sta. Ana, 1; Sta. Rita, 1; and Mabalacat City, 1.
In Bulacan, villages submerged by floodwaters reached to 72. These are in the towns of Hagonoy, Marilao, Baliwag, Balagtas, Bocaue, Guiguinto and Calumpit and Meycauayan City.
Some 1,486 families or 5,237 individuals were affected in the two provinces.
Meanwhile, there are still some roads in the region that are closed to traffic.
As per the monitoring report of the Pampanga 1st District Engineering Office as of 4 a.m. Tuesday, the following are still not passable to all types of vehicles: Sto. Tomas- Minalin Road (Minalin-Macabebe section); Baliwag-Candaba-Sta.Ana Road; Candaba-San Miguel Road; Sta. Lucia, Matua, Masantol; and Caduang Tete, Apalit.
The roads that are hardly passable to light vehicles are the portions of the Manila North Road; Jose Abad Santos Avenue; Old Manila North Road; Apalit-Macabebe-Masantol Road.
Based on the rainfall information issued by the weather bureau as of 6:35 a.m., light to moderate with occasional heavy rains affecting Zambales; Bataan; Bulacan; Pampanga; and Tarlac may persist within two hours, while light to moderate rains are expected over Nueva Ecija within the next two hours. (Zorayda Tecson/PNA)