Classes, government work suspended in NCR due to Habagat —Palace

Classes in public schools and work in government agencies were suspended in the National Capital Region (NCR) on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, due to inclement weather, Malacañang said.

The work and class suspension due to the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat was effective 7 a.m., according the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Facebook.

The suspension of work and classes was recommended by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

"We would like to respectfully inform the President that due to the ongoing and the forecasted rainfall today, August 28, 2024, which will bring occasional rains with possible flashfloods over Metro Manila caused by the Southwest Monsoon, the NDRRMC recommends the suspension of classes and work within the National Capital Region (NCR) effective 7:00 AM, August 28, 2024 (Wednesday)," the NDRRMC said in its recommendation.

"This excludes frontline agencies engaged in emergency services," it added.

Work and class suspension in private companies and schools, meanwhile, will be upon the discretion of their respective heads, the NDRRMC said.

Some local government units (LGUs) in NCR already announced the suspension of classes in private schools.

The council said the suspension "will prevent any untoward incidents and will ensure the safety of the general public."

Following the announcement, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said it has suspended the implementation of the expanded number coding scheme for the day.

According to state weather bureau PAGASA, Habagat will bring cloudy skies with rain showers over Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Visayas on Wednesday.

PAGASA warned of possible flash floods and landslides due to the bad weather.

Metro Manila, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, and Antique will have occasional rains.

La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet, Bicol Region, and the rest of Visayas, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, and MIMAROPA will have cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms.

Meanwhile, due to localized thunderstorms, the rest of the will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms, according to PAGASA. —with Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA Integrated News