LGUs, DepEd suspend classes due to “Zoraida”

CEBU, Philippines - Less than a week after super typhoon "Yolanda" ravaged parts of Cebu, heavy rains brought by tropical depression "Zoraida" also prompted local government units to suspend classes yesterday afternoon.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama declared the half-day suspension of elementary and high school classes for both public and private institutions after signal number one was raised in southern Cebu and neighboring provinces in Central Visayas.

The announcement was made past eight in the morning following the recommendation of Engr. Oscar Tabada of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administation (PAGASA) Mactan.

The Department of Education-Cebu Province also ordered the suspension of classes in Southern Cebu.

Arden Monisit, DepEd-Cebu Province schools division superintendent however said that classes will resume today after PAGASA lifted all signal warnings at 3:30 in the afternoon yesterday.

Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes also ordered the suspension of classes yesterday afternoon in all levels in public and private schools in the city.

Cortes also called all 27 barangay captains within the city to meet for the possible activation of the barangay disaster brigade in case the typhoon would intensify.

Further, work for Regional Trial Court employees continued since no strong winds hampered their operations which is currently done outside the Marcelo Fernan Hall of Justice following the order of structural engineers to condemn the use of the building due to the damages caused by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake. 

As of 4 in the afternoon yesterday, vessels to and from Cebu were already allowed to travel by the Philippine Coastguard-Cebu District.

"Lifted na ang suspension kasi wala nang storm signal based on the 3:30pm weather bulletin of PAGASA," said Janus Sabas, deputy commander sa PCG-Cebu District.

PCG-Cebu District did not allow 37 passenger vessels, four motor bancas and 43 roll-on/roll-off vessels to travel since Monday, 11 in the morning, until 4 in the afternoon yesterday.

Sabas said there were 1,806 passengers bound for Bohol, Dumaguete City and Northern Mindanao who were stranded in the different ports in Cebu.

While "Zoraida" is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility today, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau-7 of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 called on local government officials to still be cautious especially for residents in their jurisdiction who are living in low-lying and landslide-prone areas in Cebu, Bohol and Negros Oriental.

MGB-7 Regional Director Loreto Alburo said that being "over prepared" is a better option to ensure the safety of the communities who may be affected.

 He added that it is very important for local chief executives to give more attention to areas that are found to be highly susceptible to flooding and landslides as indicated in geohazard maps.

Alburo in a statement urged local chief executives to get hold of geohazard maps and implement the necessary measures to reduce the impact of landslides and flooding within their areas of responsibility.

Meanwhile, based on the assessment of DepEd-Cebu Province on the damage of super typhoon Yolanda, 388 classrooms were destroyed in the 4th district, particularly in the towns of Sogod, Borbon, Tabogon, Medillin and San Remegio.

Monisit said that he already informed this matter to DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro, who was in Cebu yesterday.—/(FREEMAN)