Twenty-six towns and cities in Pangasinan and four towns in La Union canceled classes on Monday due to heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon or 'habagat'. Pangasinan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) operations and training head Vincent Chu said the suspension of classes was still localized as some parts of the province are no longer experiencing heavy rains. "It is better to localize the suspensions so as not to disrupt school or work in areas not experiencing rain showers or flooding," Chu said in an interview. He said that Binmaley, Lingayen, and Dagupan City have also suspended work in government offices except those in frontline services during calamities. He added that some villages and sitios (sub-zones) in these three localities are also flooded. "We are coordinating with the local government units if the reported evacuees have already returned to their residences," Chu said. The PDRRMO official said red alert status is still up in the province although Typhoon Hanna was already outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility. Rescue vehicles, water assets, and rescue personnel of PDRRMO and other concerned government agencies are still on standby. Gale warning is up in the province hence, sailing is prohibited while swimming is discouraged, Chu said. Meanwhile, four towns in La Union, namely Agoo, Aringay, Tubao, and Rosario also canceled classes, according to the La Union PDRRMO. In a situation report issued on Monday, PDRRM officer Aureliano Rulloda III said eight areas in the province were reportedly flooded while two minor landslides, soil erosion, and whirlwinds were recorded. He said some 117 families or 408 individuals from Naguilian and Luna towns have been affected by the weather disturbance. Twenty-two houses have been damaged, four totally and 18 partially destroyed by the whirlwind in Naguilian and Luna towns. A 60-year-old female from Luna town has been injured in the incident.
Source: Philippines News Agency