MANILA (3rd UPDATE) — Several local government units (LGU) in Luzon suspended classes on Tuesday, August 20, due to volcanic smog coming from the Taal Volcano.

 Face-to-face classes in the following areas has been suspended:

All levels, public and private

• Laguna
• Jalajala, Rizal
• Candelaria, Quezon

Batangas

• Agoncillo
• Alitagtag
• Balayan
• Balete
• Bauan
• Calaca
• Calatagan
• Cuenca
• Ibaan
• Laurel
• Lemery
• Lian
• Lipa City
• Lobo
• Mabini
• Malvar
• Mataasnakahoy
• Nasugbu
• Rosario
• San Jose
• San Juan
• San Luis
• San Nicolas
• San Pascual
• Santa Teresita
• Santo Tomas
• Taal
• Talisay
• Tanauan
• Taysan
  
  

Cavite

• • Alfonso
  • General Emilio Aguinaldo
  • General Mariano Alvarez
  • Magallanes
  • Maragondon
  • Mendez-Nuñez
  • Naic
  • Noveleta
  • Silang
   

RIZAL 

• 
  
• • Antipolo
  • Baras
  • Cainta
  • Cardona
  • Morong
  • Pililla (hanggang Agosto 21)
  • San Mateo
  • Tanay
  • Taytay
  • Teresa
   

Elementary to senior high, public and private

• • Angono, Rizal
  • Padre Garcia, Batangas
  • Tuy, Batangas
   

Meanwhile, classes in the following areas, whether in person or online, are suspended:

All Levels, private and public

Cavite

• Amadeo
• Bacoor
• Cavite City
  
• Dasmariñas
  
• General Trias
  
• Imus
  
• Indang
  
• Kawit
  
• Rosario
  
• Trece Martires
   
• Lubang, Occidental Mindoro

Local government units have advised the public to wear face masks and stay inside their homes if possible.

Taal Volcano remains under Alert Level 1 which means that it is still in "abnormal condition and should not be interpreted to have ceased unrest nor ceased the threat of eruptive activity."

On Sunday, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources stations showed unhealthy levels of air quality in parts of Metro Manila.

DepEd also released memorandum No. 46 series of 2024, authorizing affected schools to suspend classes in the absence of an official announcement from the local government units.

"To ensure learning continuity in affected areas, DepEd instructs schools to employ alternative delivery modalities such as modular or online learning," read the DepEd memo signed by Secretary Sonny Angara.

"Meanwhile, the decision to lift the suspension will depend on whether it is safe for learners and teachers to return. Concerned personnel are advised to stay updated through news and announcements from the Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology," it added.