MONITORING. La Union Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office personnel monitor the track of a typhoon in an undated photo. La Union and Pangasinan local government units canceled classes on Thursday (Aug. 31, 2023) due to the inclement weather. (Photo courtesy of La Union 911)
MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – Seven towns in Pangasinan and 12 in La Union suspended classes on Thursday due to bad weather caused by the enhanced southwest monsoon or "habagat."
In Pangasinan, classes were canceled in all levels in Sual, Infanta, Burgos, Bani, Anda and Agno towns, while the suspension in Bolinao town was from preschool to elementary levels only.
In La Union, classes were suspended in Agoo, Bacnotan, Bagulin, Balaoan, Bangar, Bauang, Caba, Luna, Pugo, Rosario, Sudipen, and Tubao towns.
Bacnotan, Bauang, and Rosario's class suspension was up to the college level.
In a phone interview on Thursday, Pangasinan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) weather monitoring staff Keeiven del Rosario said the suspensions in Pangasinan were localized or under the discretion of the local government units depending on the weather situation in their localities.
He said moderate to heavy rain showers are experienced in the province.
"There are still no evacuees or flooded areas in the province and no significant untoward incidents," he added.
Del Rosario said based on the forecast of the weather bureau, rains will persist in the coming days as severe tropical storm Hanna has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility and would enhance the southwest monsoon.
He reminded the fisherfolk that a gale warning was hoisted on Thursday thus sailing is prohibited and swimming is discouraged.
Meanwhile, in a situational report issued by the La Union PDRRMO on Thursday, officer Aureliano Rullod III said the province is experiencing light to moderate rain showers and three localities were reported to have been flooded, while four minor landslides were recorded as of 1 p.m. of Thursday.
He said 13 families or 58 individuals from Caba town and San Fernando City have evacuated from their houses to their relatives or families due to floods. (PNA)
