FLOODED CAMPUS. A public high school in Macabebe, Pampanga is still submerged in floodwater as of Tuesday (Sept. 5, 2023) due to occasional moderate to heavy rains caused by the enhanced southwest monsoon. Some local government units in Pampanga declared the cancellation of classes due to flooded school grounds. (Photo courtesy of Macabebe LGU)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Ninety-three villages in this province remained submerged in floodwaters as of Tuesday due to intermittent moderate to heavy rains caused by enhanced southwest monsoon or “habagat”.
Based on the latest report of the Pampanga Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), most of the villages that experienced up to three-foot-deep floods are in the towns of Masantol, Macabebe and Guagua.
PDRRMO chief Angelina Blanco said at least 33 families affected by flooding in the province are staying in various evacuation centers.
Some local government units (LGUs) likewise implemented localized suspension of classes as many schools are still under water.
Guagua Mayor Anthony Joseph Torres also declared the suspension of face-to-face classes at all levels in public and private schools in his municipality.
Torres said he received reports indicating the occurrence of flooding in different schools located in the town’s low-lying areas.
In Macabebe, Mayor Leonardo B. Flores also declared a similar directive as some 30 public schools in the town have flooded rooms and grounds.
Masantol Mayor Jose Antonio Bustos said that upon consultation with the official of the Department of Education School District Office in the province, it was recommended to shift classes from face-to-face to modular learning due to flooding.
“Batid po nating iba ang sitwasyon sa ating bayan at ayaw po nating mailagay sa peligro ang kapakanan at buhay ng ating mga guro at mga mag-aaral (We know that the situation in our town is different and we do not want to put the welfare and lives of our teachers and students at risk)," Bustos said.
Other LGUs in the province that suspended classes were the cities of Angeles and San Fernando as well as the towns of Floridablanca and Bacolor.
Aside from this province, localized suspension of classes was also declared in Tarlac province.
A province-wide suspension of classes, on the other hand, was declared in Zambales, Bataan and Bulacan. (PNA)
