MANILA, Philippines – Some areas and schools declared suspension of classes for Tuesday, August 20, 2024 due to high levels of vog, or volcanic smog, from Taal Volcano.
Face-to-face classes in the following areas has been suspended:
All levels, public and private
Batangas- Agoncillo
- Alitagtag
- Balete
- Bauan
- Calaca
- Calatagan
- Cuenca
- Ibaan
- Laurel
- Lemery
- Lian
- Lobo
- Malvar
- Mataasnakahoy
- Nasugbu
- Rosario
- San Jose
- San Juan
- San Luis
- San Nicolas
- San Pascual
- Santo Tomas
- Taal
- Talisay
- Tanauan
- Taysan
- Alfonso
- Naic
- Noveleta
- Silang
- Baras
- Binangonan
- Cainta
- Jalajala
- Morong
- Tanay
- Taytay
- Teresa
Elementary to senior high, public and private
Batangas- Padre Garcia
- Tuy
Classes, whether in person or online, are suspended:
All Levels, private and public
Cavite- Amadeo
- Cavite City
- Dasmariñas
- General Trias
- Imus
- Indang
- Kawit
- Rosario
- Trece Martires
Lubang, Occidental Mindoro
Class suspensions from schools
- OB Montessori Center - no face-to-face classes, all Metro Manila campuses
- Colegio de San Juan de Letran - no face-to-face classes; flexible working arrangements for office operations
- Mapua University - no face-to-face classes, senior high school and undergraduate; employees to shift to work-from-home arrangement
- Adamson University - no face-to-face classes, all levels
On Monday, dozens of local government units surrounding Taal Volcano and even parts of Cavite, Laguna, and Metro Manila suspended face-to-face classes due to vog.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said they received reports of vog in several areas near the volcano, including the municipalities of Laurel, Tuy, Calaca, San Luis, Balayan, Lemery, Talisay, Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Balete, Sta. Teresita, Malvar and Alitagtag in Batangas, as well as in Batangas City.
In the 24-hour observation made by PHIVOLCS on Taal Volcano released at 12 a.m. Monday, the volcano is on alert level 1 or low-level unrest. Taal was observed to be emitting 3,355 tonnes of sulfur dioxide flux per day since Thursday, resulting in vog.
The PHIVOLCS said vog is composed of sulfur dioxide gas and other volcanic gases, and mixed with atmospheric oxygen, dust or ashes, and sunlight.
Vog results in a foggy view of surroundings and can cause irritations of the eyes, throat, and nose.
— The Summit Express
