MONITORING. A farmer checks his crop during the onslaught of Typhoon Julian in Malasiqui town, Pangasinan on Monday (Sept. 30, 2024). The provinces of the Ilocos Region were on red alert since 8 a.m. after tropical cyclone wind signals No. 1 and 2 were declared. (Photo by Hilda Austria)
MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – The provincial government of Pangasinan suspended classes at all levels for Tuesday due to heavy rains brought by Typhoon Julian.
Based on the 5 p.m. bulletin of the state weather bureau on Monday, the province remains under tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) No. 1.
Despite the rains, the province remains flood-free and has not reported any casualty, according to Pia Flores, Pangasinan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) Emergency Operations Center assistant director.
"As Typhoon Julian intensifies, we will be experiencing moderate to heavy rainfall," she said in a phone interview.
On Monday, 40 municipalities and three cities suspended classes at all levels while three municipalities and one city suspended classes from preschool to secondary.
"We are monitoring the Bued River in Calasiao since it is above normal level," Flores added.
Since 8 a.m. Monday, the province as well as the other provinces in Ilocos Region namely La Union, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur, were placed under red alert, which requires all emergency assets on standby for any eventualities.
In La Union, some minor landslides, rockslides, and fallen trees were reported due to heavy rains in San Fernando City and San Gabriel town but these have been cleared, according to the Provincial Information Office.
The provincial government suspended classes on Monday due to inclement weather as TCWS No. 1 was raised in the province since Sunday afternoon.
Class suspension at all levels, both in public and private schools, was also declared in La Union for Tuesday.
In Ilocos Norte, classes at all levels, both in public and private schools, were also suspended, along with work in government offices, according to a public advisory posted on the Facebook page of Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc at around 7 p.m. Monday.
The advisory, however, said excluded from the work suspension are “government offices whose functions involve the delivery of health services, disaster response, and other vital services.”
“Head of private companies are urged to suspend work to safeguard their employees,” the advisory said.
Filing of certificate of candidacy (COC) will also continue in Ilocos Norte on Tuesday.
“The filing of candidacies at the Commission on Elections will continue as scheduled and is excluded from this suspension,” the same advisory said.
Cordillera Administrative Region
In Abra, classes in all levels, including the alternative learning system, have been suspended, with Abra Governor Dominic Valera, who is also the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Chair, calling on private and public school officials to “shift to appropriate alternative delivery modes for learning continuity.”
Work in local and national government offices are, on the other hand, set to resume Tuesday, he added.
Classes in public and private schools in Baguio City are also suspended for Tuesday, for pre-school up to senior high school.
Fire incidents
Meanwhile, four fire incidents in residential areas were recorded in the towns of Pagudpud, Bacarra, and Victar on Monday amidst the onslaught of Julian.
Major Roxanne Parado, provincial fire director of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), said the Vintar incident was caused by a lighted candle left on top of a plastic dresser while the others were likely caused by electrical short circuits caused by rainwater leaks.
She, thus, advised owners to take precautionary measures at home and throughly check areas that are prone to rainwater leaks and have their electrical system checked by a licensed electrician.
Health measures
Department of Health (DOH) Ilocos Regional Director Paula Paz Sydiongco, in a separate interview, reminded the public of safety precautions to avoid waterborne diseases.
DOH continues to advocate the 4S - - search and destroy mosquito-breeding sites, seek early consultation, self-protection measures, and support spraying or fogging in areas with clustered cases - - to prevent dengue cases, she added. (PNA)
