ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/24 September) – Due to bad weather, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) cancelled Monday afternoon the classes in all levels of public and private schools here.
A five-year old boy was also reported killed due to the harsh weather condition.
Mayor Celso Lobregat, who chairs the CDRRMC, issued the declaration cancelling the classes effective 1 p.m. as this city had been experiencing continuous heavy rains and strong winds for the past 48 hours already.
Jose Frivaldo Jr., Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration – Zamboanga Synoptic Station meteorologist, said the continuous heavy rains and strong winds were spawned by the southwest monsoon and further enhanced by Tropical Storm Lawin.
Lobregat said that it will be up to the school administrators to decide whether or not they will resume classes on Tuesday.
Lobregat, who convened the CDRRMC at around 11 a.m. Monday, disclosed that a five-year old boy, Mark Anthony Mallari, died when a tree fell and smashed their house earlier at around 2 a.m. in Barangay Labuan, 36 kilometers west of this city.
Francisco Barredo, City Social Welfare and Development officer, said that a total of 876 families have been displaced by floods as of 2 p.m. Monday.
A total of 11 barangays–six in the west coast and five in the east coast–were flooded because of the continuous heavy downpour for the past 48 hours, Barredo said.
City agriculturist Diosdado Palacat said that some 79 hectares of rice and vegetable crops were reportedly destroyed as of 2 p.m. Monday.
Meanwhile, Frivaldo said this city will still experience rain and winds “but no longer like what was experienced on Sunday.”
The expected rain and wind will be moderate to heavy, Frivaldo said. (MindaNews)
