MANILA, PHILIPPINES — On Monday, Malacañang Palace announced that there will be no work in government offices and no classes in schools on Tuesday, July 22, because of the non-stop heavy rains and flooding.
⚠️ Why was this announced?
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) worked together with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and other important agencies. After studying the situation, they told President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. that it’s safer to suspend work and classes, and the President said “Yes” right away.
📢 The Suspension Covers These Areas:
-
Metro Manila
-
Zambales
-
Bataan
-
Pampanga
-
Bulacan
-
Cavite
-
Batangas
-
Rizal
-
Pangasinan
-
Tarlac
-
Occidental Mindoro
👷♀️ But wait! Not everyone is staying home. People working in emergency, rescue, health, and basic services like hospitals, fire departments, and disaster response teams will still report to work to help keep everyone safe.
🏢 For people working in private offices, it’s up to their bosses to decide whether they will have work or not.
🏫 WHAT ARE THE MAYORS SAYING?
📍Mandaluyong City:
Mayor Menchie Abalos said no classes in all levels, both public and private, because the rains are not stopping and it might cause dangerous floods and traffic jams.
📍Marikina City:
Mayor “Maan” Teodoro also announced that all schools will be closed—including online classes.
🌊 The Marikina River rose to 16.0 meters, which means it reached the 2nd alarm level.
➡️ This level tells people in low areas to get ready to evacuate just in case.
📍City of Manila:
Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso followed the advice of the city’s disaster team and also suspended face-to-face classes in all public and private schools.
📚 He said all schools should shift to online learning until it’s safe again.
📍Caloocan, Valenzuela, and Malabon also said no classes on Tuesday due to the same safety reasons.
☔ PAGASA’S WARNING:
The weather bureau PAGASA said the Southwest Monsoon, or Habagat, will continue to bring moderate to heavy rains over Metro Manila and nearby provinces. This is why flooding can get worse fast.
📣 Everyone is advised to:
-
Stay indoors if possible
-
Keep phones and radios ready for updates
-
Move to safer places if you live in flood-prone areas
-
Help neighbors and check on your loved ones
👩👩👧👦 This suspension is all about keeping families safe. So stay dry, stay safe, and wait for further updates from your mayors, schools, and official channels.
🌀 It’s not just another rainy day—this is a time to be alert and look out for each other.
