A seasoned journalist is asking government officials to clearly tell people when classes are canceled because of Tropical Storm Kristine.
Lynda Jumilla-Abalos shared screenshots of social media posts from Cavite Governor Athena Tolentino and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla about the class suspensions due to the storm. On October 22, Governor Tolentino announced that classes from all levels in Cavite would be canceled on October 22 and 23.
In her post, she apologized for any confusion and said college students would also have no classes. She reshared Remulla’s earlier post, where he expressed regret for not coordinating with her about the announcements.
In his Facebook post, Remulla said he couldn’t speak with the governor earlier and informed everyone that the whole Luzon area was affected by Signal No. 1 for the storm.
The former governor, who is known for his casual style, had been giving updates about the storm before the announcement. He mentioned that Kristine was still far away but headed towards the Philippines.
Later, as Kristine approached, there was confusion because Tolentino announced the class suspension shortly before Remulla’s post, leaving many parents unsure about what to do.
Some people found this situation funny, but Jumilla-Abalos was frustrated. She said the Cavite government needs to communicate better, especially when children are affected. Many agreed with her, stressing that clear announcements are crucial in emergencies.
More local government units have canceled classes because of Kristine. According to PAGASA, as of 11 a.m., Luzon and parts of Visayas and Mindanao are under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1, while Catanduanes is under Signal No. 2.
Kristine is expected to strengthen into a severe tropical storm and hit Isabela or Northern Aurora late on October 23 or early on October 24. It will then move across Northern Luzon and exit the Philippine area by October 25.
