Classes suspended in all levels in NCR, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna--DepEd

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE 4) Classes in all levels in areas affected by storm "Ondoy" will remain suspended from Wednesday until Saturday, education officials announced Tuesday.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said there would be no classes in public and private elementary and high schools in the National Capital Region or Metro Manila this Wednesday.

Classes in the metropolis have been suspended since Monday due to the onslaught of storm "ondoy" over the weekend.

Kenneth Tirado, DepEd public information chief, said elementary and high school classes in Cavite province; Cainta, Rizal; and Sta. Rosa, Pami, Mabitac, and Calamba in Laguna would be suspended until Friday.

Emanuel Angeles of the Commission on Higher Education said there would be no classes in public and private colleges in the calamity areas until Saturday.

Lapus said on Tuesday the Department of Education decided to suspend classes in the metropolis for one more day to give way to relief efforts for victims of "Ondoy."

He added that many of the public schools in NCR have been tapped as evacuation centers for close to 8,000 families.

In radio interviews Tuesday morning, Lapus said other stormn-hit provinces could decide on their own to keep the classes suspended for a few more days, depending on their situation.