#WalangPasok: Class Suspensions For May 31, 2023, Wednesday

#WalangPasok: Updated List of Work and Class cancellations for May 31, 2023 (Wednesday)

Manila, Philippines – Several Local Government Units and Schools in the Philippines suspended classes and government work on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, due to Typhoon Betty (Mawar) and the enhanced southwest monsoon.

Walang Pasok Updates: Mayo 31, 2023, Miyerkules

(As of 10:18pm, May 30, 2023) Here’s an updated list of towns, cities, and schools that canceled classes/work On Wednesday:

Forecast Weather Conditions Issued at 4:00 PM, 30 May 2023

SYNOPSIS: At 3:00 PM today, the center of the eye of Typhoon “BETTY” {MAWAR} was estimated based on all available data at 315 km East of Basco, Batanes (20.6°N, 125.0°E) with maximum sustained winds of 150 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 185 km/h. It is moving Northward slowly. Southwest Monsoon affecting Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Place - Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, and Ilocos Norte, MIMAROPA, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, the rest of Ilocos Region, of Cordillera Administrative Region, and of Cagayan Valley, Metro Manila and the rest of the country.

Weather Condition - Stormy, Rains with Gusty winds, Cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms, Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Caused By - TY BETTY, Southwest Monsoon / TY BETTY, Southwest Monsoon.

Impacts - Possible flooding or landslides due to heavy to intense rains. Minor threat to moderate threat to lives and properties due to strong winds, Possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to at times heavy rains.

Typhoon “Betty”

Issued at 05:00 pm, 30 May 2023 (Valid for broadcast until the next advisory to be issued at 11:00 PM today)

TYPHOON BETTY DECELERATES WHILE SLOWLY MOVING NORTHWARD OVER THE SEA EAST OF BATANES

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND AREAS

Heavy Rainfall Outlook

Forecast accumulated rainfall from today to tomorrow afternoon

50-100 mm: Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and the western portions of Abra and Benguet.

Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazard as identified in hazard maps and in localities that experienced considerable amounts of rainfall for the past several days.

For more information on the areas affected by rains from the Southwest Monsoon enhanced by BETTY, refer to the Weather Advisory #3 for Southwest Monsoon issued at 11:00 AM today and the 24-Hour Public Weather Forecast at 4:00 PM today.

Severe Winds

Wind Signals in some areas of Luzon have been downgraded.

Minor to moderate impacts caused by gale-force winds remain possible within the areas where Wind Signal No. 2 is hoisted. Minimal to minor impacts from strong winds (i.e., strong breeze to near gale strength) are also possible within any of the areas where Wind Signal No.1 is currently in effect.

The enhanced Southwest Monsoon and outer periphery of the typhoon circulation will also bring occasional gusts in the next 24 hours over Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Aurora, Quezon, Mindoro Provinces, Marinduque, Romblon, Northern Samar, and the rest of Cordillera Administrative Region and Ilocos Norte that are not under any Wind Signal.

HAZARDS AFFECTING COASTAL WATERS

Under the influence of Typhoon BETTY and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon, a marine gale warning remains in effect over the seaboards of Northern Luzon, eastern seaboards of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Visayas. For more information, refer to Gale Warning #7 issued at 5:00 PM today.

TRACK AND INTENSITY OUTLOOK

Typhoon BETTY is forecast to generally move slowly northward today until tomorrow over the waters east of Batanes. Afterwards, the typhoon will gradually accelerate north northeastward on Thursday and northeastward on Friday, bringing its center over the waters southeast of the Ryukyu Islands. Typhoon BETTY may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on late Thursday or Friday early morning.

This typhoon is forecast to steadily weaken over the next five days due to cooler ocean waters (caused by upwelling of cooler waters in its wake), dry air intrusion, and increasing vertical wind shear. BETTY may be downgraded into a severe tropical storm on late Thursday or early Friday and into a tropical storm on late Friday or early Saturday. However, given the extent of the effect of dry air intrusion on the typhoon, a faster weakening rate within the forecast period is not ruled out.

Department of Education (DepEd) Class and Work Suspension Guideline:

Here are the guidelines for cancellation or suspension of classes and work in public schools from Kindergarten to Grade 12 where there are typhoons, heavy rains, and floods based on DepEd Order No. 37, s. 2022.

The Department of Education issues these Guidelines on the Cancellation or Suspension of Classes and Work in Schools in the event of Natural Disasters, Power Outages/Power Interruptions, and other calamities to further guide schools, their personnel, and learners, both within the public and private institutions.

1. Typhoon

In-person and online classes at all levels are automatically canceled in schools situated in Local Government Units (LGUs) issued with Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS) 1, 2, 3,4, or 5 by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

If the TCWS is issued at a time when classes have already begun, the school shall immediately suspend the classes and work and send everyone home if it is safe to do so. However, schools must keep students and personnel safe in school if traveling has become unsafe.

Local Chief Executives shall decide on the cancellation or suspension of classes in cases where there are strong winds in specific or all areas of the LGU but is not due to a typhoon.

2. Heavy Rainfall

In-person and online classes at all levels are automatically canceled in schools situated in LGUs issued with Yellow, Orange, and Red Rainfall Warnings by the PAGASA.

If the Warning is issued when classes have already begun, the school shall immediately suspend the classes and work and send everyone home if it is safe to do so. However, schools are obligated to keep the students and personnel safely in school if traveling has become unsafe.

Local Chief Executives shall decide on the cancellation or suspension of classes in cases where there are torrential rains in specific or all areas of the LGU but is not issued a Heavy Rainfall Alert by PAGASA.

3. Flood

In-person and online classes in all levels are automatically canceled in schools situated in LGUs issued with a Flood Warning by the PAGASA.

If the Flood Warning is issued at a time when classes have already begun, the school shall immediately suspend the classes and work and send everyone home, if it is safe to do so. However, schools are obligated to keep the students and personnel safely in school if traveling has become unsafe.

Local Chief Executives shall decide on the cancellation or suspension of classes in cases where there is flooding in specific or all areas of the LGU but is not issued a Flood Warning by PAGASA.

4. Earthquakes

In-person and online classes in all levels are automatically canceled in schools situated in LGUs where the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOCS) declares an earthquake with PHILVOCS Earthquake Intensity Scale (PEIS) V or above.

Local Chief Executives shall decide on the cancellation or suspension of classes in cases where the PEIS is IV and below.

School Principals can cancel classes at any Intensity Scale if in their assessment, building and other structures are seen to be in danger of collapsing or is found to have major damage.

The School Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Team Head should clear the return of students and personnel in buildings and other structures.

5. Power Outages/ Power Interruptions/ Brownouts

There will be no automatic cancellation or suspension of classes if there are power outages/power interruptions/brownouts in schools. If power outages/power interruptions and brownouts have resulted in a poor learning environment, school officials can cancel or suspend classes at their discretion.

6. Adjustments to Learning Delivery Due to Suspensions/Cancellations of Classes

If canceled or suspended classes occur, distance learning or make-up classes shall be implemented to ensure that learning competencies and objectives are still met.

In adherence to the provision of DepEd Order No. 14, s. 2021, learners who miss learning activities due to class suspensions brought about by various disruptions like disasters and/or emergencies due to natural or human-induced hazards shall be accorded due consideration in the completion of their learning tasks.

7. Maintenance of Workforce and Activation of DRRM Teams

Teaching school personnel, including ALS teachers, and non-teaching school personnel in schools, Division Offices, Regional Offices, and the Central Office, shall not be required to report to work, except those who are mandated to render security, safety, finance, engineering, sanitation, health, and disaster response duties.

Schools, on the other hand, must always be ready to implement remote work with measured output.

Central, Regional, and Schools Division Offices and schools shall activate their DRRM Teams to prepare, monitor, and respond to the situation. DRRM Team members, particularly DRRM Coordinators and Engineers, shall be required to report to work in the aftermath of the disaster to continue undertaking response, early recovery, and reporting based on established DRRM protocols (e.g., an inspection of school facilities to vet damages as reported by School DRRM Coordinators, detailed assessment of damaged facilities for purposes of developing the Program of Works for infrastructure costing in rehabilitation and recovery plans, and participation in coordination meetings with LDRRMCs). Other DRRM Team members may likewise be required to report to work as needed.

8. Use of schools as Evacuation Center or COVID-19 Quarantine and/or Isolation Facility/Vaccination Center

Schools shall not be used as quarantine and/ or isolation facilities or vaccination centers. The authority given to Regional Directors in allowing schools to be designated as quarantine and/or isolation facilities/ vaccination centers under Office Memorandum OM-Osec-2020-004 (Guidance to Regional Directors for Action Requests by Local Government Units to Use DepEd Schools and Engage DepEd Personnel in Activities Related to COVID-19), is hereby lifted. Office Memorandum OM-OSEC- 2021-03-003 (Use of DepEd Classrooms and Other Facilities as Vaccination Centers) is likewise hereby repealed.

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