The local government of Makati City has been known to be conservative when it comes to class suspension during the rainy season 鈥� as a proof, Makati was one of the last cities in Metro Manila to dismiss classes on Wednesday.
Obviously, Makati Mayor Abby Binay and other city officials have drawn flak from netizens.聽聽The criticisms hurled against the local executives differ though: some vented their frustration through posts and comments on Twitter and Facebook while some turned it into a comic situation.
https://twitter.com/oquendo_mille/status/1019178086129025024
funny kasi wala masyadong tweets abt suspension and binay lol sanay na mga makatizens
鈥� aj (@ineffablevk)
Retweet this lucky picture of Mayora Abby Binay for suspension to all levels in makati.
鈥� Jewi (@JerrLuffy)
However, some have reportedly gone overboard with their comments, prompting the mayor to consider taking legal action against some people.
Binay claimed that netizens 鈥� most of whom are young people 鈥� have threatened violence, with some referencing the fate of slain Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili if she does not suspend classes.
鈥淚t has come to a point na nananakot na.聽聽鈥榊ong pasasabugin daw 鈥榶ong bahay ko dahil 鈥榙i ako nagsuspend ng ano (classes), gusto ko ba daw na ma-snipe sa flag ceremony,鈥� Binay said in an interview with DZMM鈥檚 Dos Por Dos on Wednesday.
(It has come to a point when the are threats already. They threatened to blow up my house because I did not suspend classes. Some have asked if I want to be shot by a sniper in a flag ceremony.)
鈥淜ung sasabihin nilang joke 鈥榶an, 鈥榙i ko ho 鈥榶an mamaliitin dahil alam naman po natin na mayroon pong mga opisyal ngayon na namamatay, binabaril.聽聽If you do that in America, you think 鈥榶ong FBI 鈥榙i kayo kakatukin sa bahay niyo? she added.
(I am not going to consider that as a small joke because there were government officials who got killed. If you do that in America, don鈥檛 you think the FBI won鈥檛 knock on your door?)
She said that she will consult the National Bureau of Investigation regarding the matter.
鈥淵es, ire-reklamo ko na ho sila (I will file a case).聽聽I will have to ask the assistance of the NBI to help me,鈥� Binay said.
鈥淚 cannot take it lightly kasi iba 鈥榶ong minumura niyo ako, iba 鈥榶ong sinasabi niyo na bobo ako, pero kung pinagbabantaan niyo na ako, eh hindi na ho 鈥榶on nakakatuwa,鈥� she explained.
(I cannot take it lightly because it鈥檚 different when people curse me or say that I鈥檓 a dimwit, but if you are going to threaten me, that鈥檚 not funny.)
On the other hand, Binay explained why Makati has been consistently tardy in suspending classes. She said the government does not decide based on the moves of other local government units.
鈥淲e declare (class suspensions) as early as 11 p.m., 鈥榶ong iba 6 p.m. pa lang nagde-declare na.聽聽Inaantay po kasi namin 鈥榶ong Pagasa forecast ng 11 p.m, inaantay po namin, tinitignan kung kailangan na magdeclare,鈥� Binay said.
(We declare class suspensions at 11 p.m. Other local government units suspend classes at 6 p.m. We wait for the forecast from Pagasa because we need to check whether there is a need to suspend classes.)
The local executive also said that the city has its own weather instruments to have a better glimpse of the weather situation for the upcoming days.聽聽This, according to Binay, helps the city make informed decisions on class suspensions.
鈥淎ctually meron po kaming kinukuhang data from Pagasa, meron din pong pitong weather stations dito po sa Makati (We get data from Pagasa, but we also have seven weather stations here in Makati),鈥� she said.
鈥淭ignan niyo sa Makati din umuulan pero sa Quezon City baha na.聽聽Wala kasing baha dito.聽聽Hindi mo pwedeng sabihin na 鈥榩ag baha sa Manila, baha sa Makati; 鈥榩ag umuulan sa Makati, umuulan sa Manila.聽聽Very localized (ang weather),鈥� she added.
(That is why sometimes it鈥檚 not even raining in Makati, but Quezon City is already flooded. You can鈥檛 say that if there is a flood in Manila, there will also be a flood in Makati or if it rains in Makati, it is also rain in Manila. The weather is very localized.)
But contrary to Binay鈥� statements, netizens have called the Makati government鈥檚 attention on its official Facebook page due to knee-deep floods in various residential areas, and even on streets leading up to the central business district. /ee