Opong to bring heavy rain; gov’t work, classes suspended

Malacañang suspended government work and classes at all levels today in Metro Manila and large areas of Luzon and the Visayas as Severe Tropical Storm Opong (international name Bualoi) intensified and threatened to bring heavy rainfall and flooding.

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Apart from Metro Manila, work and class suspensions were ordered in Biliran, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, Masbate, Romblon, Sorsogon, Aklan, Albay, Antique, Batangas, Bataan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Capiz, Cavite, Catanduanes, Guimaras, Iloilo, Laguna, Leyte, Marinduque, Negros Occidental, Oriental Mindoro, Rizal and Quezon.

Private companies were given the discretion to suspend work, according to the order signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

Signal No. 3 was hoisted over parts of Samar and Bicol yesterday as Opong moved closer to Eastern Visayas, bringing storm-force winds, heavy rains and the threat of coastal surges.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Opong was located 195 kilometers east-northeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, or 225 km east of Borongan City, packing maximum sustained winds of 110 km per hour near the center and gusts of up to 135 kph.

Signal No. 3 was hoisted over Northern Samar, the northern portions of Eastern Samar and Samar, as well as Sorsogon and the northern part of Masbate, including Ticao and Burias Islands in Luzon.

Meanwhile, areas under Signal No. 2, which may see gale-force winds within 24 hours, include Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Catanduanes, the rest of Masbate, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, parts of Batangas and Quezon, Biliran, the northwestern portion of Leyte, and the central sections of Eastern Samar and Samar.

Large swathes of Luzon, Visayas, and northern Mindanao ~ including Metro Manila, Central Luzon, much of Calabarzon and Mimaropa, Cagayan Valley, Ilocos, Eastern Visayas, Northern Cebu, and parts of Northern Mindanao — were placed under Signal No. 1, where strong winds may be felt within 36 hours.