WEATHER DISTURBANCE NOW STORM 'DODONG', 7 AREAS UNDER SIGNAL NO. 1

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE 4 - 2:31 p.m.) The active low pressure area (LPA) spotted off Zambales that has been bringing heavy rains over Luzon for two days now has turned into a tropical depression called storm "Dodong," the state weather bureau said Thursday.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has raised Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1 over seven areas - Metro Manila, Zambales, Bataan, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Cavite and Pampanga.

The weather bureau said Dodong was located 60 km west southwest of Iba, Zambales with winds reaching 55 kph near the center and moving north northwest at 15 kph.

It is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility and head to southern China by Friday afternoon, although rains should be expected until at least Saturday.

Earlier in the day, the Department of Education suspended classes in the pre-school to high school levels in Metro Manila, and in parts of Bulacan and the Calabarzon region.

By Thursday noon, the DepEd reported more areas where classes were suspended.

These include the entire province of Rizal; Tagaytay City, Noveleta, GMA, Bacood, Rosario and Sangley Elementary School in Cavite City, in Cavite; and Doña Remedios, Trinidad and Obando in Bulacan.

In Malolos City, Bulacan, afternoon pre-school and elementary classes were suspended.

Classes at all levels were suspended in Lubang, Occidental Mindoro; Angeles City, Pampanga; Balanga City and Limay, Bataan; Lemery, Bauan, Batangas City, Calaca and Taal in Batangas.

Classes at the Caparitan Elemetary School in Bay, Laguna were also suspended.

Earlier, classes were suspended in Antipolo, Rizal; Alaminos, San Pablo City, Laguna; Kawit, Cavite; and Lucena, Quezon.

In Bulacan, classes in Pariahan Elementary School, Don Isidro Teodoro High School in Bulacan, Bulacan were suspended while pre-school to high school classes in the towns of Doña Remedios Trinidad and Obando in Bulacan were also suspended, the DepEd said.

Several areas in Metro Manila were hit by floods that the Metro Manila Development Authority said were compounded by garbage clogging antiquated drainage systems.



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