Monsoon rains (Habagat) flood Manila and Pampanga from Sept 9-11 — Class suspensions announced

📌 Heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon (Habagat) from September 9 to 11 submerged parts of Metro Manila and Central Luzon, triggering a wave of class suspensions.
An orange rainfall warning was raised over northern Metro Manila, Bataan, and Zambales on the 9th, while classes were suspended on the 11th in Quezon City, Caloocan, Valenzuela, as well as parts of Pampanga, Bulacan, and Pangasinan. The death toll from typhoons and the monsoon since August has risen to 44.

■ Key Events
· September 9 (Wed): PAGASA issues orange rainfall warning — Bataan, Metro Manila (Valenzuela, Caloocan, Malabon, Quezon City, Navotas, Manila, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Marikina), Obando in Bulacan, and Zambales (Olongapo, Subic, etc.). Numerous roads in Manila flooded during the morning commute.
· September 11 (Fri) Class Suspensions: Caloocan, Navotas, Quezon City, Valenzuela (all levels), Dagupan, Calasiao, and Mangatarem in Pangasinan, Calumpit in Bulacan, and Minalin, San Simon, and Santo Tomas in Pampanga, among others (some shifted to alternative learning modes like online classes).

■ Impact (NDRRMC Report, September 10)
· Cumulative damage from typhoons Luis, Maimai, Nenen, Pilandok and the southwest monsoon since August 1: 44 dead, 5 missing, affecting about 3 million families (10.4 million people).
· Out of 434 flooded areas, 322 are in Central Luzon (Pampanga, Bulacan, etc.). A state of calamity has been declared in 188 cities and municipalities nationwide.
· In Pampanga, 21 cities and municipalities have been under a state of calamity since mid-August.
· Around 60,000 people sheltered in 654 evacuation centers; infrastructure damage reached 8.3 billion pesos and agricultural damage 4.38 billion pesos.

■ Tips for Expats and Travelers
· Low-lying areas in Pampanga (San Simon, Minalin, Santo Tomas, etc.) and northern Manila (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) flood easily when continuous rain falls. Avoid traveling through these areas on rainy days.
· Class suspensions are announced individually by local government units (LGUs). Check the official Facebook page of your child's city hall or the "Walang Pasok" list by GMA or Philstar the night before or early in the morning.

■ Sources
Philstar (9/11), GMA News (9/11), astig.ph (9/9), BusinessMirror (9/7·9/10), GMA News (NDRRMC 44 deaths report), SunStar (8/14)

■ Photos
· Road in front of the NBI in Manila flooded by heavy rain on September 9 (astig.ph)
· In front of a school in Quezon City in the rain following the class suspension announcement on September 11 (Philstar)