LEGAZPI CITY - The provincial government of Camarines Sur and several local government units in Albay suspended classes on Monday due to heavy rains brought by weather disturbances. In a memorandum, Camarines Sur Governor Vincenzo Renato Luigi Villafuerte said the suspension of classes was considered for the safety of the students and the general public. "The Province of Camarines Sur is still experiencing moderate to heavy rainfall due to the Southwest Monsoon. Several municipalities are currently flooded due to the accumulated antecedent rainfall," Villafuerte said. In Albay, several towns and a city suspended classes due to moderate to heavy rains. Albay Governor Edcel Grex Lagman said in a social media post the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) was closely monitoring the weather situation, and the suspension of classes was localized or depending on the advisories issued by local chief executives. Tabaco City ordered the suspension of classes from preschool to senior high s chool, both public and private, while for the college level, a localized suspension was implemented. Mayors of Malilipot, Malinao, Bacacay, Polangui, Camalig, Sto. Domingo, Guinobatan, and Daraga canceled classes at all levels, while the Libon Agro-Industrial High School shifted to modular learning. Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office in Bicol (PRO5) activated its Reactionary Standby Support Force (RSSF), consisting of 397 highly trained personnel from various units for disaster response in various affected areas in the region. "These personnel are prepared to assist in any emergency, providing essential support for disaster response operations in affected areas," PRO5 chief Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon said in a statement. Two emergency response teams (ERT) from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) 5 have also been placed on high alert, poised for rapid deployment. He said the deployment of the RSSF and ERT will be based on real-time assessments of the evolving situation on the ground, allowing for th e efficient allocation of resources. The focus will be on flood-prone barangays and communities facing immediate threats. Dizon urged the public to remain vigilant and to prioritize their safety by closely following advisories from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and local disaster management offices. 'Rest assured that we will continue to work closely with all relevant agencies to address any situation that may arise," he said. PAGASA said in its advisory that Tropical Depression Gener and a tropical storm with the international name 'Pulasan' outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) will enhance the southwest monsoon, affecting the regions of Mimaropa, Bicol, Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and Davao. Source: Philippines News agency
