Palace lets LGUs decide on class, work suspension

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

FILE: Scene on the streets of Baclaran, Parañaque City and Bacoor, Cavite on Sunday (Nov. 17, 2024). Metro Manila escaped the wrath of Pepito. (PNA photo by Avito Dalan)

MANILA – Malacañang on Sunday said it is up to local chief executives on whether government work and classes will be suspended in their localities as Super Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-Yi) pummeled Luzon.

“Upon consultation with the relevant government agencies and the NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council), cancellation of classes and/or suspension of work in government offices is given to the respective local chief executives, taking into consideration the situation in their respective localities,” the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a statement.

Several local government units (LGUs) have declared class and government work suspension for Monday due to inclement weather caused by the super typhoon.

The LGUs that have announced class and government work suspensions as of 6 p.m. Sunday:

Ilocos Region
-Pangasinan (all levels, public and private; work in government offices)
-La Union (all levels, public and private; work in government offices)

Cordillera Administrative Region
-Baguio City (all levels, public and private; work in government offices suspended half day from 8 a.m. to 12 noon)
-Paracelis, Mt. Province (Kindergarten-Senior High School)

Central Luzon
-Pandi, Bulacan (all levels, public and private)
-San Rafael, Bulacan (all levels, public and private)
-City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan (Kindergarten-Grade 12, public and private)
-Marilao, Bulacan (all levels, public and private)
-Santa Maria, Bulacan (all levels, public and private)
-Nueva Ecija (all levels, public and private; work in government)
-Tarlac (all levels, public and private; work in government offices)
-Sto. Tomas, Pampanga (all levels, public and private)
-San Marcelino, Zambales (all levels, public and private)

CALABARZON
-Cavite (all levels, public and private)
-Laguna (all levels, public and private)
-Mauban, Quezon (all levels, public and private)
-Laurel, Batangas (all levels, public and private)
-Lian, Batangas (all levels, public and private)
-Morong, Rizal (all levels, public and private)

Metro Manila
-Valenzuela City (all levels, public and private)
-Caloocan City (all levels, public and private)

The sixth tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines in a month, Pepito has been dumping torrential rains and unleashing typhoon-force winds over majority of Luzon and parts of Visayas since Friday.

The tropical cyclone triggered flooding in several areas, especially in the Bicol Region which was battered by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine late October.

Pepito made landfall over Aurora province on Sunday afternoon, according to the state weather bureau.

It will then cross the northern portion of Central Luzon and the southern portion of Northern Luzon, where weakening is expected as it barrels through the upland regions of Sierra Madre, Caraballo, and Cordillera.