Bacolod City and nine other local government units in Negros Occidental have suspended classes at all levels on Friday, May 5, amid the threat of heavy rainfall.
The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council said Western Visayas will remain under blue alert. Other LGUs who have suspended classes on Friday are
Silay, Talisay, Bago, Himamaylan and La Carlota cities, and Hinoba-an, EB Magalona, Manapla, Hinigaran and Murcia towns.
But Mayor Renato Gustilo said classes will resume in San Carlos City on Friday.
The Department of Education (DepEd) has monitored 1,374 public schools in Western Visayas shifting to alternative delivery mode (ADM) of learning as a precautionary measure due to poor weather caused by a low pressure area, the Philippine News Agency reported.
DepEd information officer Hernani Escullar Jr., said DepEd Order 30, series of 2022, mandates schools to shift to alternative modes during suspension or cancelation of classes to make sure that learning competencies are met.
Of the total number of schools, 452 are from Negros Occidental, 216 – Capiz, 529 – Iloilo province, 66 – Iloilo City, and 111 – Antique.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Thursday afternoon said the low pressure area west southwest of Cuyo, Palawan, may develop into a tropical depression within the next 48 hours and may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Sunday.
However, on the same day, another low pressure area which is now east of Mindanao may enter the PAR and could bring rains in the coming days over Eastern Visayas and the eastern section of Mindanao, it said.
Scattered rains and thunderstorms are expected over some parts of Visayas and Mindanao due to the intertropical convergence zone until Sunday, PAGASA added.
Cauayan, Negros Occidental, rescuers were searching for a 50-year-old female of Barangay Guiljungan who was reported to have drowned Wednesday night, Louie Lagulao, Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office head of the town, said Thursday.*