Classes stopped due to heavy rains, flooding

ILOILO CITY, Philippines - Classes in pre-school, elementary, and secondary levels were suspended in many schools in the city due to torrential rain and flooding in some parts of the metropolis since Sunday.

In the absence of a public storm warning signal, the DepEd–Iloilo City left it to school authorities to suspend the classes or not. Most private and public schools in the city decided to suspend the class before noon yesterday. Around that time, a good number of students had to brave ankle-deep flood waters and rain.

Heavy rains, coupled with protracted thunder and lightning, also compelled the Philippine Coast Guard to order the cancellation of sea travel to and from Iloilo and Guimaras, and Iloilo and Bacolod City at around 10 a.m.

After an hour, however, Commodore Athelo Ybañez, PCG-Western Visayas chief, lifted the suspension. “We would make necessary suspension based on the prevailing weather condition,” he added.

As early as 8 a.m. yesterday, several commuters complained that they were late in going to school and office because of the scarcity of city-loop jeepneys to pick them up at the transport terminals in barangays Tagbac and Ungka in Jaro district, this city.