The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) recommended to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Sunday, Sept. 25, to suspend all work in government offices and classes at all levels in public schools in eight regions, including the National Capital Region (NCR), due to Super Typhoon "Karding."
NDRRMC Chairman and Department of National Defense (DND) Officer in Charge Jose Faustino Jr. affixed his signature and sent the recommendation letter to Marcos. A copy of the recommendation letter obtained by the media and shown to the NDRRMC was confirmed by its officers.
Aside from NCR, other regions covered by the recommendation include Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region (1), Cagayan Valley (Region 2), Central Luzon (Region 3), Calabarzon which covers Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon (Region 4A); Mimaropa which covers Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan; and Bicol (Region 5).
However, Faustino clarified that frontline agencies which are providing emergency services related to the typhoon are excluded from the recommendation as they are needed for response operations.
"The identification of the regions is based on the analysis determined from the NDRRMC's pre-disaster risk assessment (PDRA)," Faustino explained in the letter.
"Further, classes of public schools at all levels are likewise recommended for suspension. The same course of action for private companies, offices, and schools is left to the discretion of their respective heads," he added.
The NDRRMC chief said that the suspension, if approved, will "prevent any untoward incidents and will ensure the safety of the general public."
The recommendation awaits the approval of Marcos as of this posting.