(UPDATE) Heavy rain floods parts of Metro

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - Heavy rain submerged this afternoon most parts of Metro Manila, forcing at least 16 colleges and universities to suspend classes.

According to Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) some major thoroughfares in the metropolis were not passable to light vehicles as it warned heavy traffic flows.

"As of 6:25 p.m., Espana-Lacson (streets) towards Maceda (street in Manila) was knee deep and not passable to light vehicles," MMDA said on its official Twitter.

The Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office cited that at least 16 schools in the Philippine capital suspended their classes.

In the 5:00 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that southwest monsoon was affecting Luzon and Western Visayas.

The state weather agency projected that Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, MIMAROPA and the provinces of Cavite and Batangas would experience cloudy skies with moderate to ocassionally heavy rainshowers and thunderstorms which may trigger flashflood and landslide.

The rest of the country would have cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms, it added.