By Sarwell Meniano – PNA news
TACLOBAN CITY – The city government here has suspended classes in all levels and work in all government offices Tuesday as Tropical Depression “Samuel” threatens the Eastern Visayas region.
Mayor Cristina Gonzalez-Romualdez issued the order on the cancellation of classes on Monday night and the directive to suspend work in the regional capital early Tuesday morning.
“Work in all government offices in Tacloban City are temporarily suspended except those offices involved in maintenance of peace and order, disaster risk reduction management, health and sanitation, and traffic management,” Romualdez said in a statement.
The suspension has also affected the transaction in many parts of the region since several regional and provincial offices are based in this city. The main campuses of big universities are also based in the city.
Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla also suspended classes in all levels in Leyte province. Cancellation of classes have been declared in Southern Leyte, Biliran, Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar, although some local governments have not issued executive orders.
As of 7 a.m., Samuel was last spotted 350 kilometers east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte. About 28 areas were also placed under storm signal number 1 by the state weather bureau.
The weather disturbance has a strength of maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 65 kph. It is forecast to move west northwest at 20 kph.
Samuel is expected to make landfall in the Dinagat-Samar-Leyte area on Tuesday evening
