SOME cities in Davao del Norte have suspended their classes due to Tropical Depression Querobin.
The Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) announced on Tuesday, December 17, class suspension at all levels in public and private schools on December 18, 2024, due to the Tropical Depression Querubin.
The Local Government Unit of Igacos further said that work in government offices will also be suspended except for frontline or disaster response offices.
Earlier that day, the LGU suspended classes at all levels due to ongoing weather disturbances and advised students and teachers to return home for their safety.
“Due to the weather disturbance expected to traverse in Region 11, classes in all levels in both public and private schools in the Island Garden City of Samal are suspended this afternoon, December 17, 2024,” Samal Island Information posted on its Facebook on the same day.
Panabo City also suspended its classes at all levels from private and public schools on December 18, 2024. In its advisory, the class suspension is applied until the preemptive measure for Querubin is lifted in the region.
The LGU also said that if heavy downpour persists because of the tropical depression in the city, the city’s Engineering Office would turn off its Christmas lights at the park and plaza of Panabo’s New City Hall.
Moreover, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Davao del Norte raised its alert status to Blue Alert because of Querubin. The Blue Alert status will remain until further notice as it will ensure that the implementation of preparedness measures and protocols are in place in preparation for the tropical depression.
Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-Pagasa) in their tropical cyclone bulletin said that the LPA has developed into a tropical depression. As of 4 p.m. on Dec. 17, it showed that the center of Querubin was 215 kilometers (km) from Davao City, 245 km East of General Santos City. The tropical depression is moving south southeastward slowly with maximum sustained winds of 45 km per hour near the center, it has a gustiness of 55 km/h, and a center pressure of 1004 hPa
Meanwhile, the Coast Guard Station-Igacos released Sea Travel Advisory No. 1 on December 17, 2024, advising all ships, watercraft, and fisherfolk in the area to take precautionary measures.
“Listen and monitor the weather updates before venturing at sea to avoid any maritime accidents and for the safety of everybody,” the Coast Guard office wrote in their post.
DOST-Pagasa’s forecast warned of possible flash floods or landslides induced by heavy rainfall. Additionally, light to moderate winds from the east to northeast were expected, with coastal waters becoming slightly to moderately rough. RGP
