42 cities, municipalities declare state of calamity due to tropical cyclones, SW monsoon

A total of 42 cities and municipalities have declared a state of calamity as of Thursday morning due to Tropical Cyclones Crising, Dante, Emong, and the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat), with more areas joining the list.

The declaration allows them to access quick response funds and impose price freezes on basic commodities in affected regions like Cavite province, Bulacan, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Batangas, and Metro Manila including Marikina, Manila, Las Piñas, Quezon City, Malabon, Caloocan, Navotas, Valenzuela, Cebu City, Rizal, Antique, Bataan, Mindoro Occidental, Palawan, Pampanga, and Tarlac.

PAGASA warns that torrential rains may hit areas like Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, Zambales, La Union, Bataan, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Benguet, Abra, Mountain Province, and Ifugao through Friday afternoon.

As of Thursday afternoon, PAGASA raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 over parts of the Ilocos region as Typhoon Emong moved slowly over the coastal waters of Pangasinan.

In response to the calamity, Malacañang has suspended classes and government work in Metro Manila and dozens of provinces until Thursday with further suspensions on Friday, July 25.