Malacañang has ordered the suspension of in-person government work and face-to-face classes across 15 provinces in Luzon for Tuesday, September 1, 2026, due to severe weather from the enhanced Southwest Monsoon, locally known as Habagat. According to announcements from the Palace and local networks, the directive aims to protect students and state employees from heavy rainfall, potential flooding, and landslide risks.
Memorandum Circular No. 133 Scope and Affected Provinces
The suspension order was issued late Monday through Memorandum Circular No. 133 by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto under the authority of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., according to reports from GMA Network and regional coverage. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council recommended the blanket suspension after tracking persistent downpours across large parts of Luzon.
The 15 provinces covered by the official Palace directive span three administrative regions:
- Ilocos Region: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan.
- Cordillera Administrative Region: Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Kalinga, and Mountain Province.
- Central Luzon: Zambales, Tarlac, Pampanga, and Bataan.
Government agencies within these regions must shift to alternative work arrangements, excluding units delivering essential health, safety, and disaster response services.
Localized Class Suspensions and Alternative Learning Modes
While the Palace mandate halts in-person schooling in the 15 designated provinces, the directive specifies that schools are expected to shift to alternative learning modes rather than cancel classes entirely. According to educational guidelines cited in regional reports, institutions may utilize online classes, modular packets, or take-home assignments to maintain academic continuity.
Individual local government units and municipal offices have also issued specific local advisories. In the province of Pangasinan, towns including Bugallon, Bayambang, and San Carlos City suspended all levels across public and private schools, while Bugallon extended suspensions through September 2, 2026. In Pampanga, local officials in Guagua, Sta. Rita, Santa Ana, and Bacolor ordered total class suspensions for all levels. Similar localized suspensions were enacted in Tarlac municipalities such as Camiling, Gerona, Paniqui, and Sta. Ignacia, where schools implemented non-face-to-face learning formats. In Benguet, provincial officials restricted face-to-face classes from preschool to senior high school.
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