La Mesa Dam at spilling mark, river levels at critical, some classes suspended

Published August 6, 2012 3:55am

(Updated 1:03 p.m.) - The La Mesa Dam reached spilling level of 80.15 meters, dam monitors of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Monday morning via their official Twitter account. State weather forecasters said Sunday the southwest monsoon is still dumping light to moderate rain over parts of Luzon. PAGASA’s flood forecasting and warning system (FFWS) also showed that flood monitoring equipment detected critical water levels at San Mateo, Rizal and at Tumana Bridge, Sto Niño, and Marcos Highway. At the San Mateo station, river waters were 1.75 meters above the critical water level of 18.30 meters as of 3:40 a.m. Monday. At Tumana Bridge, the river waters were 1.18 meters over the critical level of 18.30 meters. The water level at Sto, Niño, Marikina was 0.83 meters over the critical mark of 16.00 meters, while at the monitoring point at Marcos Highway, the water level reached 15.51 meters and critical was at 14.90 meters. The alarm level at the Marikina River was at "2" as of 4 a.m. The level was 16.8 meters as of 4 a.m.

Under the alarm level system, Alarm Level 1 is raised if the water level is between 15 to 16 meters (Warning).

Alarm Level 2 (prepare) is raised when the water level goes above 16 to 17 meters. Alarm Level 3 (voluntary evacuate) is raised when the Water level goes beyond 17 meters.

The highest level, 4, is raised when the water level goes beyond 18 meters and will entail forced evacuation.

Marikina officials said over 4,000 residents in flood-prone areas have been evacuated. In North Fairview, Quezon City flooding was reported, according to the PAGASA-FFWS. Classes suspended Mayor Herbert Bautista has suspended preschool to high school Monday classes all over Quezon City.

Classes were suspended up to the high school level in four villages in Marikina City Monday due to the threat of floods there.

The city government issued the suspension order early Monday even as it evacuated several families near the Marikina River, radio dzBB reported.

Suspended were classes in Malanday, Concepcion I, Tumana, and Nangka.

In Rizal province, dzBB's Glen Juego reported classes were suspended in Rodriguez town in all public and private schools in all levels. In Cainta, Rizal, afternoon classes were suspended for preschool to high school in both public and private schools, according to dzBB's Glen Juego. Monday preschool to high school classes in San Mateo have also been suspended.

With several parts of the city still flooded, there will still be no classes in at least nine schools in Valenzuela City on Monday.

The city government made the announcement a public advisory posted Sunday night on its Facebook and Twitter accounts. It said there will be no classes in

A. Deato Elementary School
Coloong Elementary School
Isla Elementary School
Pasolo Elementary School
Pio Valenzuela Elementary School
PR San Diego Elementary School
Tagalag Elementary School
Wawang Pulo Elementary School
Polo National High School

Classes in several parts of Valenzuela City had been suspended since last week due to floods from heavy rain.

The Department of Education said classes from preschool to high school levels were also suspended in:

Mandaluyong City
Taguig City
Pasay City
San Juan City

A separate report by dzBB's Allan Gatus said classes were suspended up to the high school level in Malabon City, along with the City of Malabon University and the City of Malabon Polytechnic Institute.

Pateros town suspended morning classes in public schools up to the high school level, but said it will determine later in the day if afternoon classes are also suspended.

"Kailangan mailayo ang ating mga anak sa panganib at sakit. Wala tayong pagbaha," Pateros Mayor Joey Medina said on dzBB. In Muntinlupa, afternoon classes for all levels were also suspended, according to the city's public information office. Navotas City, however, said classes in all levels in private and public schools were to push through.

Private schools Some private schools suspended classes for the day. University of the East announced via its Twitter account that UE president Dr. Ester A. Garcia declared the suspension of classes from preschool to high school in UE Manila and UE Caloocan. Classes at St. Paul University in Quezon City have been suspended, according to its vice president for academic affairs, Sr. Evangeline Anastacio. A dzBB report said classes were also suspended at Jose Abad Santos Memorial School (JASMS) and Philippine Christian University.

Other schools that suspended classes were:

ASEAB Christian Learning Center: preschool to high school
Assumption College: elementary at 1:00 p.m., high school at 2 p.m.
City of Malabon Polytechnic Institute
City of Malabon University
Charles Science Integrated School, San Mateo and Marikina: preschool and elementary, according to Teacher Ruth Manaig
Eastern Star Academy,San Mateo, Rizal: preschool to high school, according to Principal Pia Roxas
I Learn Center Philippines, Malabon: college, according to Ma. Aurea Perez, Deputy for Operations and Academic Affairs
Kapitan Moy Elementary School
Kids' World Christian Academy, San Mateo, Rizal: preschool to high school, according to Principal Lyda Amoroso
La Naval Academy of Navotas: preschool to high school, according to Dr. Antonio Naval, school president
Marikina Heights High School
Miriam Academy of Valenzuela: preschool and elementary, according to Principal Miriam Sebastian
New Era University: all levels according to a report on dzBB
Perpetual Help College of Manila: all levels as of 12 noon, according to chief operating officer Manuel Tamayo, Sr.
Polytechnic University of the Philippines Laboratory High School, Sta. Mesa, Manila: classes suspended from 12:00 p.m.
San Beda College Rizal: preschool to high school, according to a report on News to Go
San Lorenzo Ruiz De Manila School, Nangka, Manila: preschool to high school, according to Mrs. Teresita Chaves, Academic Coordinator
St. Genevieve School of Pateros: preschool to high school, according to Principal Nicolas Lizardo
St. Joseph School Fairview
St. Scholastica's College Manila: grade school by 11:30 a.m., high school by 12:15 p.m., according to Vice President for Academic Affairs Virginia Fornias
University of Sto. Tomas: all levels from 12 p.m. onwards. The campus should be cleared by 3 p.m. according to the Office of the Secretary General

Classes go on in other areas

In other areas in Metro Manila, classes were not suspended.

In Manila, Colegio de San Juan de Letran said there was no suspension of classes.

Classes were also to push through as usual at the University of the Philippines Manila.

MMDA number coding not suspended

Despite the floods that hit Metro Manila due to heavy rain since Sunday night, the number coding for Monday will still be in effect.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority stressed this amid questions from netizens on whether the number coding scheme for the day would be suspended.

"May number coding po ngayon (August 6, 2012)," it said on its Twitter account.

Under the number coding scheme, vehicles whose plate numbers end in 1 and 2 are barred from Metro Manila's major thoroughfares from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The scheme aims to ease traffic by lessening the number of vehicles plying major roads at peak hours. — ELR/KG/CGL, GMA News

Tags: lamesadam, classsuspension, waterlevel, floods, monsoonrains