Classes in the province of Sultan Kudarat and government work in three towns were suspended until further notice due to a series of earthquakes.
In an executive order issued on Wednesday, Sultan Kudarat Governor Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu ordered the suspension of classes at all levels in both public and private schools across the province.
Government work in the towns of Kalamansig, Lebak, and Palimbang, including offices of national government agencies, was likewise suspended until further notice, except for offices and personnel providing essential and emergency services.
A blended work arrangement, combining work-from-home setup and on-site reporting, is being implemented in all government offices outside the three municipalities.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, in coordination with concerned municipal and city offices, is directed to monitor the situation, conduct safety and structural assessments, and submit regular reports to the governor.
“The province of Sultan Kudarat has recently experienced a series of earthquakes and possible aftershocks that pose risks to public safety and the structural integrity of buildings,” the order read.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded a total of 633 offshore earthquakes ranging from magnitudes 1.4 to 5.2, as of Thursday noon. It added that 197 of these were plotted, while 30 were felt.
Phivolcs also said that it has not issued any advisory indicating an imminent tsunami or a need for evacuation of the coastal communities due to the earthquake swarm.
