Several provincial and local governments suspended classes and government work ahead of Severe Tropical Storm ‘Paolo,’ which is forecast to bring heavy rains and strong winds on Friday, October 3.
According to PAGASA, Paolo strengthened into a severe tropical storm at around 8 p.m. Thursday, October 2, and was last located 340 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora. It is packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 115 kph.
The storm is moving westward at 30 kph and is projected to make landfall over Isabela or northern Aurora on Friday morning. It may still intensify into a typhoon before landfall.
As of 11 p.m. on Thursday, Wind Signal No. 3 was raised in several areas in Aurora, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Mountain Province, Ifugao, and Benguet, where storm-force winds are expected within 18 hours.
While Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol, Panay Island, Marinduque and Romblon are not under any wind signal, the state weather bureau said they may experience gale-force gusts on Friday due to Paolo’s strength.
While most local governments imposed class suspensions due to the tropical storm, some provinces will be observing a provincial teachers’ day on Friday.
Here is a list of class suspensions according to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
Ilocos Region
Ilocos Norte
Solsona – all levels (public and private)
Ilocos Sur
Tagudin – all levels (public and private), including government offices
Narvacan – all levels (public and private), including government offices
La Union – all levels (public and private)
Pangasinan – all levels (public and private)
Dagupan City – all levels (public and private)
Cordillera Administrative Region
Abra – all levels (public and private), shift to Alternative Delivery Mode
Apayao – all levels (public and private), in observance of Provincial Teachers’ Day
Benguet – pre-school to senior high school (public and private)
Baguio City – all levels (public and private) in observance of Teachers’ Day, including government work starting 12 p.m. due to Paolo
Kalinga – kinder to junior high school (public and private)
Mountain Province – special non-working day in observance of Provincial Indigenous People’s Day
Ifugao
Mayoyao – all levels (public and private)
Lamut – kindergarten to junior high school (public and private)
Banaue – all levels (public and private)
Lagawe – pre-school to senior high school (public and private)
Central Luzon
Nueva Ecija – all levels (public and private)
Aurora – all levels (public and private), including government offices
Pampanga
Angeles City – kindergarten to senior high school (public only)
Tarlac
Paniqui – all levels (public and private) in observance of Teachers’ Day
Camiling – all levels (public and private) in observance of Teachers’ Day
Zambales
Palauig – all levels (public and private), including alternative learning system
Masinloc – all levels (public and private)
Cagayan Valley
Cagayan
Aparri – all levels (public and private)
Baggao – all levels (public and private)
Tuguegarao City – all levels (public and private)
Peñablanca – all levels (public and private)
Sto. Niño – all levels (public and private)
Iguig – all levels (public and private)
Sta. Praxedes – all levels (public and private)
Allacapan – all levels (public and private)
Lasam – all levels (public and private)
Amulung – all levels (public and private)
Solana – kindergarten to senior high school, including alternative learning system (public and private)
Rizal – all levels (public and private)
Abulug – all levels (public and private)
Gattaran – all levels (public and private)
Ballesteros – all levels (public and private)
Claveria – all levels (public and private)
Sanchez Mira – pre-school to kindergarten (public and private)
Pamplona – pre-school to kindergarten (public and private)
Isabela – all levels (public and private), including government offices
Santiago City – all levels (public and private), including government offices
Nueva Vizcaya – all levels (public and private)
Calabarzon
Quezon
Lopez – all levels (public and private)
Batangas
Tuy – all levels (public and private)
Lian – all levels (public and private)
Lemery – all levels (public and private)
Balayan – all levels (public and private), shift to online or Modular Distance Learning
Nasugbu – all levels (public and private), shift to online or Modular Distance Learning
Calatagan – all levels (public and private), shift to onlien or Modular Distance Learning
Central Visayas
Lapu-Lapu City – all levels (public and private) due to the 6.9-magnitude earthquake, shift to Alternative Delivery Mode
Cebu
San Fernando – all levels (public and private) due to the 6.9-magnitude earthquake, shift to Alternative Delivery Mode
Talisay – all levels (public and private) due to the 6.9-magnitude earthquake
Bicol Region
Masbate – all levels (public and private) due to tropical cyclone “Opong” until October 4. The province is under a state of calamity.