INQUIRER FILES
LUCENA CITY 鈥� Due to the threat of heavy rains, nine local government units in Quezon province suspended school classes on Wednesday.
On their respective Facebook pages, the local governments of Infanta, Pagbilao, Quezon, Lopez, Tagkawayan, Atimonan, Real, Tayabas City, and Lucena City announced the suspension of classes from kindergarten to senior high school due to adverse weather conditions.
In a 5 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported heavy to intense rainfall affecting Quezon and Camarines Norte.
The agency placed the towns in the Polillo group of islands facing the Pacific Ocean in the northern part of Quezon under the 鈥渙range warning鈥� level.
Another 14 municipalities in the Quezon mainland were under the 鈥測ellow warning鈥� level.
According to Pagasa, areas under the orange rainfall warning would experience between 15 millimeters (mm) and 30 mm of downpour for the next three hours, while those under the yellow rainfall warning would experience between 7.5 mm and 15 mm of rain during the same period and possible flooding.
Under Department of Education (DepEd) Order No. 37 issued in 2022, class suspensions for online and face-to-face classes at all levels are automatically suspended once the Pagasa issues any tropical cyclone wind signal, an orange or red rainfall warning, or a flood warning.
Schools are also required to suspend classes if Pagasa raises any of the mentioned signals or warnings in the middle of the class day, the DepEd added.
Local chief executives in areas with inclement weather could also choose to suspend classes.