Latest news with #LucasBersamin
Filipino Times
18 hours ago
- Climate
- Filipino Times
Palace suspends classes, gov't work in NCR and 34 provinces due to Habagat
Malacañang announced that government offices and classes at all levels in Metro Manila and 34 provinces will be suspended on Wednesday, July 23, due to continuous heavy rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat). Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin issued Memorandum Circular No. 90 upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). The suspension covers the following provinces: Pangasinan, Zambales, Tarlac, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, Occidental Mindoro, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Palawan, Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, and Laguna. Agencies providing vital services—including health, preparedness, and emergency response—will continue operations to ensure the delivery of essential functions. Non-vital personnel may adopt alternative work arrangements in line with existing regulations.
Arab Times
a day ago
- Climate
- Arab Times
Philippines braces for more rains, severe flooding
MANILA, July 22, (Xinhua): The Philippines has been bracing for heavy rainfall as two low-pressure areas may develop into tropical depressions within the next 24 hours, the state-run weather bureau, PAGASA, said Tuesday. It warned that the prevailing southwest monsoon will continue to bring torrential rains and thunderstorms to various areas, which would cause more flooding, landslides, and other weather-related hazards. On Tuesday, Metro Manila and its adjoining areas remain under a "red" rainfall warning, PAGASA's highest alert level for rainfall, which indicates "serious" flooding is expected in some areas. Due to the downpour of rain, the country's Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin ordered the suspension of work in government offices and classes at all levels on Tuesday in Metro Manila and several other provinces. In Metro Manila, knee-deep floodwaters led commuters to wade through streets in search of rides, while motorists navigated submerged roads to return home. Government vehicles have been deployed to assist stranded individuals. Social media has been inundated with images and footage of evacuations late Monday, showing trash floating through inundated communities. The inclement weather has already had fatal consequences. In a situational report issued on Tuesday morning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that a total of 362,465 families, or 1,266,322 people, were affected nationwide by the southwest monsoon and Typhoon Wipha. Wipha exited the Philippines on Saturday, but its aftermath and the intensified monsoon have caused floods and landslides in various regions, resulting in six deaths, five injuries, and six missing people, said the NDRRMC. So far, more than 1,500 houses have been damaged, and 173 road sections and 11 bridges have been affected across the archipelago, the agency said. Estimated agricultural losses have surpassed 54 million pesos (about 947,000 U.S. dollars), the NDRRMC said.
Filipino Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Marcos orders suspension of SONA preparations to focus on flood response
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered an immediate halt to all State of the Nation Address (SONA) preparations after reports surfaced of government personnel installing materials in public areas despite severe flooding affecting many communities. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, in a statement Tuesday, said the President expressed dismay over the reports and directed the Department of Public Works and Highways and all concerned agencies to devote full attention to flood response and relief efforts. 'Let me be clear: all SONA-related preparations are hereby ordered immediately suspended,' Bersamin said. Even while on an official visit to the United States, Marcos instructed all agencies to prioritize the safety and welfare of affected Filipinos above ceremonial events. Malacañang has also suspended government work and classes across Metro Manila and 10 provinces due to the enhanced southwest monsoon that continues to cause widespread flooding.
Hans India
a day ago
- Climate
- Hans India
Philippines braces for more rains, severe flooding
Manila: The Philippines has been bracing for heavy rainfall as two low-pressure areas may develop into tropical depressions within the next 24 hours, the state-run weather bureau said on Tuesday. Weather bureau PAGASA warned that the prevailing southwest monsoon will continue to bring torrential rains and thunderstorms to various areas, which would cause more flooding, landslides, and other weather-related hazards. On Tuesday, Metro Manila and its adjoining areas remain under a "red" rainfall warning, PAGASA's highest alert level for rainfall, which indicates "serious" flooding is expected in some areas. Due to the downpour of rain, the country's Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin ordered the suspension of work in government offices and classes at all levels on Tuesday in Metro Manila and several other provinces. In Metro Manila, knee-deep floodwaters led commuters to wade through streets in search of rides, while motorists navigated submerged roads to return home. Government vehicles have been deployed to assist stranded individuals. Social media has been inundated with images and footage of evacuations late Monday, showing trash floating through inundated communities. The inclement weather has already had fatal consequences. In a situational report issued on Tuesday morning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that a total of 362,465 families, or 1,266,322 people, were affected nationwide by the southwest monsoon and Typhoon Wipha. Wipha exited the Philippines on Saturday, but its aftermath and the intensified monsoon have caused floods and landslides in various regions, resulting in six deaths, five injuries, and six missing people, said the NDRRMC. So far, more than 1,500 houses have been damaged, and 173 road sections and 11 bridges have been affected across the archipelago, Xinhua news agency reported. Estimated agricultural losses have surpassed 54 million pesos (about $947,000), the NDRRMC said. According to Philippine authorities, three Filipinos were dead and over 300,000 individuals had been affected by Typhoon Wipha.
GMA Network
a day ago
- Climate
- GMA Network
Classes, gov't work suspended in NCR, Luzon provinces on July 23 —Palace
Work in government offices and classes at all levels in the National Capital Region and some provinces are suspended on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, due to inclement weather, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said on Tuesday. Through Memorandum Circular No. 90, Bersamin said the following provinces have no classes and government work as well upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council due to the continuous heavy rainfall brought by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat): Pangasinan, Zambales, Tarlac, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, Occidental Mindoro, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Palawan, Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Laguna, and Negros Occidental. However, agencies responsible for basic, vital and health services, preparedness and response duties must continue their operations to ensure continuity of essential government functions despite the declaration of work suspension. Meanwhile, non-vital government employees of subject agencies and all other government employees may be engaged under approved alternate work arrangements, subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations. The memorandum also indicated that the localized cancellation or suspension of classes and/or work in government offices in other regions may be implemented by their respective local chief executives, pursuant to relevant laws, rules and regulations. The suspension of work for private companies and offices is left to the discretion of their respective heads. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
