Some areas in Calabarzon, NCR suspend classes due to vog

Some areas in Calabarzon and Metro Manila have suspended classes or in-person classes for Monday, Aug. 19, 2024 due to high levels of vog, or volcanic smog, from Taal Volcano.

• Balete, Batangas - no face-to-face classes, all levels, public and private; shift to modular/online 
• Ibaan, Batangas - no face-to-face classes, all levels, public and private
• Laurel, Batangas - no classes, preschool to senior high school, public and private
• Lemery, Batangas - no classes, all levels, public and private
• Lipa City, Batangas - no general suspension of classes. Granular shift to modular/online distance learning (ODL) to be implemented based on recommendation of school administration. Schools in Halang, Sico, and San Salvador to implement ODL.
• Malvar, Batangas - no face-to-face classes; back to modular learning system in all levels, public and private
• Nasugbu, Batangas - no face-to-face classes, elementary to college, public and private; shift to modular/online
• San Jose, Batangas - no face-to-face classes, all levels, public and private; shift to modular/online
• San Luis, Batangas - no face-to-face classes, all levels, public; shift to modular/online
• Sto. Tomas, Batangas - no face-to-face classes, all levels, public and private; shift to modular/online
• Tanauan City, Batangas - no classes, all levels, public and private
• Alfonso, Cavite - no classes, all levels, public and private
• Dasmariñas, Cavite - no classes, all levels, public and private
• Indang, Cavite - no classes all levels, public and private
• Silang, Cavite - no face-to-face classes, all levels, public and private; shift to modular/online 
• Biñan City, Laguna - no face-to-face classes from preschool to senior high school, public and private. Asynchronous classes to be implemented
• Calamba, Laguna - no face-to-face classes, all levels
• Las Piñas City - no classes, all levels, public and private
• Pasay City - no classes, all levels, public and private
• Lubang, Occidental Mindoro - no classes, including in-person classes, in all levels
• Caloocan City - no classes, all levels, public and private

Universities suspend afternoon classes

Meanwhile, the Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Manila suspended afternoon classes due to vog.

“Classes are suspended today, August 19, 2024 starting at 5 p.m. All classes will switch to asynchronous learning and flexible working arrangements for office operations starting tomorrow, August 20 (Tuesday),” the school management announced on its official Facebook page.

The Far Eastern University (FEU)  likewise suspended classes starting 4:30 p.m.

“Classes starting 4:30 p.m. (August 19,2024) in FEU Manila and FEU Makati are suspended due to inclement weather and possible health threats brought by the volcanic smog,” the university said in an advisory.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) Director Dr. Teresito Bacolcol said that the monitoring agency has received reports of vog in the municipalities of Laurel, Tuy, Calaca, San Luis, Balayan, Lemery, Talisay, Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Balete, Sta. Teresita, Malvar and Alitagtag in Batangas, as well as in Batangas City.

"Kanina, medyo mabagal 'yung hangin, at makapal 'yung steaming na naibuga ng Taal Volcano kaya nagkaroon ng haze sa mga bayan na nabanggit ko, nagkaroon ng vog," he said.

(Earlier today, the winds were slow and the steaming being emitted by Taal Volcano was voluminous that is why some towns I mentioned had haze and vog.)

Bacolcol added that PHIVOLCS has so far not received reports that the vog has reached Cavite or Laguna.

PHIVOLCS defines vog as volcanic smog consisting of "fine droplets containing volcanic gas such as sulfur dioxide, which is acidic and can cause irritation of the eyes, throat and respiratory tract with severities depending on the gas concentrations and durations of exposure."

Refresh this page for updates. — BM/KG/RSJ/RF, GMA Integrated News