Classes in 3 Bicol provinces suspended due to bad weather

Classes in all levels in Albay, Sorsogon, and Camarines Sur provinces were suspended on Friday due to heavy rains that may cause floods and landslides.

Camarines Sur Governor Vincenzo Renato Luigi Villafuerte issued a memorandum suspending classes in all 35 towns and two cities.

“The province of Camarines Sur is experiencing moderate to heavy rainfall due to the southwest monsoon. Heavy rainfall is expected until Saturday afternoon (Sept. 14). In consideration of the safety of the students and general public classes at all level levels, both public and private are suspended today, Sept. 13,” Villafuerte said.

Villafuerte said flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to the said hazards, posing a significant threat to public safety.

Meanwhile, Albay Governor Edcel Grex Lagman, in a social media post, advised residents to stay tuned to respective advisories of municipal and city local chief executives amid bad weather.

In Sorsogon, t
he Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said in an advisory that the suspension of classes was to ensure the safety and well-being of students and the general public.

The PDRRMO instructed all city and municipal DRRMOs to implement local disaster preparedness measures and to closely monitor all vulnerable areas to ensure appropriate and timely response actions.

“DRRMOs are required to review and activate contingency plans as necessary, ensuring timely dissemination of information to the public regarding all precautionary measures,” the advisory read.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued a heavy rainfall warning to the three provinces at 5 a.m. due to the southwest monsoon and the trough of Severe Tropical Storm Bebinca.

Source: Philippines News agency