Jonvic Remulla admits fault for late class, work suspensions

MANILA, Philippines — Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla admitted his "fault" for the delayed announcement of class and government work suspensions on Monday, September 1.

Remulla said he failed to anticipate the heavy rains that drenched parts of Luzon on Monday, as predictive models the night before had not indicated that the weather system would move north.

"It's my fault [...] I got the notice around 3 a.m., but I only woke up 6 a.m.," Remulla said in mixed English and Filipino in an interview with Radyo dzBB.

The predictive model as of 10 p.m. the previous night only showed southern and central Philippines would be affected by heavy rains, Remulla said.  

The weather system, he said, unexpectedly shifted northward by 3 a.m., but he was not yet awake to revise the DILG's list of class suspensions. 

The DILG secretary and former Cavite governor said this was the first time he missed an advisory for suspending classes.

“Usually I make the mark. As long as [it's what the] predictive model says. In this case, it did not detect that the weather system would move up," Remulla said.

The DILG posted the list of class suspensions on Facebook at 5:35 a.m, with an acknowledgment that the announcement was coming in late ("Medyo huli ang paalam.")

Remulla has previously drawn flak for using informal language in the DILG's announcements of class and work suspensions.

The DILG chief on Monday said local governments could not have suspended classes or work earlier because official weather maps did not show the system moving toward Metro Manila and Luzon. 

“‘The mayors could not have known because whatever weather map you look at, you won't be able to see it moving to Metro Manila or Luzon," he said.

PAGASA in its 4 a.m. advisory warned that the low pressure area east of Camarines Norte and the southwest nonsoon, or habagat, would bring scattered rains and thunderstorms over Metro Manila, Rizal and other parts of Luzon. 

The LPA currently has a low potential of developing into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours, according to the state weather bureau's 8 a.m. update.