#WalangPasok: Class suspensions for Monday, September 25, 2023

MANILA, Philippines – Some local government units announced suspension of classes on Monday, September 25, 2023 due to volcanic smog or vog from Taal Volcano.

The Philippine Institute of of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) advised Sunday that Taal Volcano is still in Alert Level 1, which means that it is still in abnormal condition and should not be interpreted to have ceased unrest nor ceased the threat of eruptive activity.

However, the situation in the province of Batangas has improved as fewer amounts of vog have been observed, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMO) said Sunday.

“Simula kahapon, malaki na ang improvement. Walang nakitang smog. Kung mayroon man, very little lang dahil very light lang, magaan lang ang binubuga na gas, ‘yung gas emission natin at saka height ng plume,” Batangas PDRRMO head Amor Calayan said in a dzBB interview.

Here's the list of class suspensions for Monday, September 25, 2023 (refresh page for updates):

Batangas

• Tanauan City – all levels, public (shift to modular distance learning)
• Sto. Tomas City – kindergarten to senior high school, including ALS, public and private (shift to modular distance learning or online class)
• Malvar – all levels, public and private (shift to modular distance learning or online class)
• Laurel – all levels, public and private (shift to modular distance learning or online class)
• Mataas na Kahoy – all levels, public and private (shift to modular distance learning or online class)

Cavite

• Alfonso – all levels, public and private (shift to modular distance learning)
• General Emilio Aguinaldo (Bailen) – all levels, public and private (shift to modular distance learning)
• Tagaytay City – all levels, public and private

Laguna

• City of Cabuyao – all levels, public and private
• Calamba City – kindergarten to senior high school, public and private (shift to modular distance learning)
• Los Baños – all levels, public and private

 
Earlier, the Department of Health- Center for Health Development Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) declared “code white alert” from September 21 to 24 due to sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission from Taal Volcano.

DOH Calabarzon Regional Director Ariel I. Valencia said that “vog should not be taken lightly as sulfur dioxide poses a serious threat to human health that can cause: eye irritation, throat and respiratory diseases, to which can aggravate pre-existing respiratory ailments depending on the concentration or duration of inhalation, and acid rain damages crops that can lead into household water supplies.”

The health department continues to advise communities affected by the volcanic smog to stay indoors and close doors and windows, wear a N95 mask if needed to go out, drink plenty of water to avoid eye irritation and immediately go to the nearest hospital if necessary.

— The Summit Express