Classes in all levels in public and private schools in the National Capital Region and nearby areas ravaged by tropical storm “Ondoy” will remain suspended until Saturday.

In a meeting of the National Disaster Coordinating Council in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Tuesday,

President Arroyo approved the suspension of classes for the rest of the week after more than 170 schools have been converted into temporary evacuation centers for flood victims.

The President also encouraged college students to help government workers and volunteers in relief efforts.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, in a press conference at the NDCC headquarters, said there will be no classes in the elementary and high school levels until Friday in Metro Manila, Marikina and Cainta in Rizal; Sta. Rosa, Fami, and Calamba in Laguna; and in the entire province of Cavite.

Lapus said local government units (LGUs) have been given authority to determine if there will be suspension of elementary and high school classes in their respective provinces.

Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) Chairman Emmanuel Y. Angeles likewise announced that classes in public and private colleges are also cancelled in calamity areas in the NCR, Regions 4-A and 4-B and parts of Region 3.

Angeles said universities and colleges will organize various rescue and disaster relief teams to help storm victims for as long as needed.

School facilities, he added, will be also turned into relief operation and evacuation centers to augment the crowded government evacuation sites.

The President, in the same meeting, designated the Metro Manila Development Authority and CHEd to spearhead the massive repair and cleanup efforts in the communities hit by Ondoy.

Angeles made clear that the mobilization of young military cadets, nursing and medical students and other learners in the storm relief campaign would be voluntary.

Taking advantage of the school holiday, Lapus also appealed to village officials to step up the “Brigada Eskwela” program for the immediate repair of classrooms and schools damaged by the storm’s heavy rainfall and floods.

There are at least 170 public schools serving as evacuation centers for close to 10,000 families.

“Magbayanihan tayo at mag-ayos sa evacuation centers at ingatan ang gamit ng bata,” Lapus said. (Genalyn Kabiling)