Classes suspended in 7 Luzon regions

MANILA, Philippines - Classes in pre-school, elementary and high school levels, both in public and private, in seven regions in Luzon, including Metro Manila, were suspended today as tropical depression "Juaning" intensified into a storm.

Elena Ruiz, Department of Education-National Capital Region (DepEd-NCR), said the class suspensions were ordered based on consultations with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

"We also advised those who have morning classes to dismiss the students now so they would not be caught in the rain," Ruiz said in a radio interview.

PAGASA said that the storm is expected to dump more rains into Metro Manila by noon today.

The DepEd also announced classes suspensions in six more regions in Luzon. The areas include: Ilocos region (pre-school, public and private), Cagayan Valley region (pre-school, public and private), Cordillera Administrative Region (pre-school, public and private), and Central Luzon (pre-school, public and private).

Classes from pre-school to high school in parts of Calabarzon have also been suspended. The areas were Dasmariñas, Bacoor, Imus, Noveleta, Rosario, Kawit, Tanza and General Trias towns in Cavite; San Pablo City in Laguna and Lipa City and Batangas City in Batangas.

In Quezon province, classes in the pre-school level, in both private and public, were suspended.

Meanwhile, classes in pre-school to high school in all provinces in Bicol region have also been suspended.

In its 8:45 a.m. bulletin, the weather bureau said "Juaning" has intensified into a storm and now threatens Quezon and Aurora areas.

The storm, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 80 kph, was located at 90 kilometers north northeast of Virac, Catanduanes or at 150 kilometers east northeast of Daet, Camarines Norte.

The storm was moving west northwest at a speed of 19 kph.

PAGASA said the storm may hit land in the Aurora-Quezon area by Wednesday morning and move 260 kilometers west northwest of Laoag City by Thursday morning.

Public storm signal No. 2 has been raised over Catanduanes, Albay, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur. Signal No. 1 is hoisted over Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Apayao,

Kalinga, Cagayan, Isabela, Ifugao, Mt. Province, La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Quirino, Aurora, Quezon including Polillo Island and Sorsogon. - with Angelo L. Gutierrez