Several local government units in the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Pangasinan suspended classes on Tuesday due to inclement weather caused by the southwest monsoon (habagat) affecting Northern Luzon. In Solsona and Pagudpud towns, Mayors Joseph de Lara and Rafael Ralph Benemerito canceled classes from preschool to secondary both in private and public schools, as the weather condition in these areas poses danger to students attending school, most especially those who need to cross rivers and landslide-prone areas. The city government of Vigan in neighboring Ilocos Sur province likewise suspended classes in all levels but some students were already on their way to school. On Tuesday morning, Ilocos Region has been experiencing heavy to at times intense rains which may trigger possible flash floods or landslides, according to the weather bureau. People living in low-lying areas are advised to be vigilant as rivers and tributaries along Bulu, Banban, Bacarra, Vintar, Laoag, and Quiaoit in Ilocos Norte as well as in lower Abra, Silay-Sta. Maria, and Buaya in Ilocos Sur may be affected. ‘The public is advised to take precautionary measures especially those living in the mountain slopes and low-lying areas,’ said an advisory. Pangasinan In Pangasinan, 12 LGUs have also canceled classes on Tuesday due to the effect of the southwest monsoon or habagat. In an interview, Pangasinan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) operations and training head Vincent Chu said as of 12 noon the LGUs of Bani, Basista, Bolinao, Calasiao, Dasol, Malasiqui, Mangatarem, Sta. Barbara, Urbiztondo towns, and San Carlos City suspended their classes at all levels. LGUs of Aguilar and Alcala towns have canceled classes from pre-school to high school, and from pre-school to elementary, respectively. The PDRRMO called on parents of children in municipalities without class suspension to practice discretion in deciding whether or not to send their children to school. Chu said the province has experienced heavy rainfall in the past few days, especially in the western and central parts. ‘But as of this morning, all roads and bridges are still passable and there were still no reported flooding,’ he said. He added the weather bureau has confirmed that the heavy rainfall in the past days was brought by the enhanced southwest monsoon. Chu said a drowning incident was reported in San Nicolas town on Monday (June 12) but they are still gathering more details and verifying if it can be considered as related to the ongoing weather system in the province. Chu said despite the inconvenience caused by the inclement weather, the farmers still stand to benefit from it. ‘Although we attribute the rainy season as something inconvenient to most people, it is a good thing for the farmers, especially with the ongoing El Niño phenomenon that affects their irrigation in their farmlands,’ he added. In a separate interview, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration Dagupan chief meteorological officer Jose Estrada Jr. said despite the rainy season, the El Niño phenomenon will prevail until the first quarter of 2024. ‘The southwest monsoon remains until October this year. For type one climate areas like Pangasinan, we are experiencing the rainy season but in other areas of the country, they are still experiencing the El Niño phenomenon,’ he said. (

Source: Philippines News Agency