The first day of the “Ber months” will begin without face-to-face classes for students in several parts of Luzon.
Malacañang has ordered the suspension of in-person government work and face-to-face classes in 15 provinces on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, as the country continues to deal with heavy rains brought by the enhanced Southwest Monsoon or Habagat.
The announcement is one of the biggest #WalangPasok updates for September 1 after several local government units had already started announcing their own class suspensions earlier Monday.
Under Memorandum Circular No. 133, government offices in the affected provinces will implement appropriate alternative work arrangements, while public and private schools are expected to shift to alternative learning modes or other learning continuity measures unless their respective local governments issue different instructions.
So, while many students will not have to physically go to school on Tuesday, this does not necessarily mean there will be no classes or school activities at all. Some schools may move lessons online, use modules, or implement another alternative learning setup.
Here is everything we know so far about the #WalangPasok situation for September 1, 2026.
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Palace Announces #WalangPasok for September 1, 2026
Malacañang announced Monday evening that face-to-face classes at all levels and in-person work in government offices will be suspended in 15 provinces in Luzon.
The order was issued through Memorandum Circular No. 133 by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, by authority of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The decision was made upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council or NDRRMC because of the expected continued heavy rainfall associated with the enhanced Habagat.
Authorities are particularly concerned about possible flooding, landslides and traffic disruptions in areas that have already experienced days of rain.
Complete List of Provinces Covered by the September 1 Palace Order
The following provinces are covered by Memorandum Circular No. 133 for Tuesday, September 1, 2026:
Ilocos Region
- Ilocos Norte
- Ilocos Sur
- La Union
- Pangasinan
Cordillera Administrative Region
- Abra
- Apayao
- Benguet
- Kalinga
- Mountain Province
Cagayan Valley
- Batanes
- Nueva Vizcaya
Central Luzon
- Bataan
- Pampanga
- Tarlac
- Zambales
That makes a total of 15 provinces.
Students, parents and government employees living in these areas should still check announcements from their city or municipal government, school or agency because more specific instructions may be issued locally.
Does #WalangPasok Mean There Are No Classes at All?
This is an important distinction.
The Palace directive specifically covers face-to-face classes.
Under Memorandum Circular No. 133, schools in the affected provinces are expected to implement alternative learning modes and learning continuity measures unless their respective local chief executives direct otherwise.
Depending on your school, this could mean:
- online classes
- asynchronous activities
- modular learning
- take-home assignments
- another alternative delivery mode
So students should not automatically assume that September 1 is a complete school holiday.
Check your school’s official Facebook page, website, group chats or advisories from your teachers before deciding that there will be no academic activities for the day.
Is Government Work Suspended on September 1?
In-person work in government offices in the 15 provinces covered by the Palace announcement is suspended, with agencies directed to implement appropriate alternative work arrangements.
However, government agencies responsible for essential services are required to continue operating.
These include agencies involved in:
- health services
- emergency response
- disaster preparedness
- public safety
- basic and vital government services
Other government personnel may be placed under alternative work arrangements to maintain the continuity of government operations.
What About Private Companies?
Employees working for private companies should take note that the Palace announcement does not automatically suspend private-sector work.
According to the September 1 directive, decisions regarding work suspension or alternative working arrangements in private companies remain at the discretion of their respective employers or management.
If you’re working in the private sector, it is best to wait for an official announcement from your company.
Companies may implement work-from-home arrangements, adjusted schedules or other measures depending on local weather and flooding conditions.
LGUs Had Already Announced Class Suspensions
Even before the Palace released its broader directive Monday evening, several local government units had already announced their own September 1 class suspensions.
Among those reported by GMA News were areas in Pangasinan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Rizal and Benguet.
Pangasinan
Earlier LGU announcements included:
- Bugallon – all levels, public and private; suspension announced through September 2
- Basista – Preschool to Senior High School, public and private
- Bayambang – all levels, public and private
- Mangaldan – no face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private
- San Carlos City – all levels, public and private
- Alaminos – all levels, public and private
Pangasinan has since been included in the Palace’s wider September 1 directive.
Pampanga
The following areas had announced suspensions before the national directive:
- Guagua – all levels, public and private
- Santa Rita – all levels, public and private
- Santa Ana – all levels, public and private
Pampanga is also among the 15 provinces covered by Memorandum Circular No. 133.
Tarlac
LGUs that had announced no face-to-face classes included:
- Camiling
- Gerona
- Paniqui
- Santa Ignacia
The suspensions generally cover all levels in public and private schools.
Tarlac is now also covered by the Palace directive.
Benguet
Benguet earlier announced the suspension of face-to-face classes from Preschool to Senior High School in public and private schools across the province.
Benguet is likewise included in the Palace order.
Rodriguez, Rizal
Rodriguez, also commonly known as Montalban, announced the suspension of classes at all levels in public and private schools.
Rizal province itself is not among the 15 provinces named in Memorandum Circular No. 133 as of Monday evening, making local LGU announcements especially important for residents of the province.
University of Santo Tomas Shifts Classes Online
The University of Santo Tomas also announced changes to its September 1 classes.
According to GMA News’ running list, classes at all levels will shift to the university’s Enriched Virtual Mode of Instruction.
Again, this highlights why students should distinguish between a suspension of face-to-face classes and a complete cancellation of classes.
Your school may simply move lessons online.
Is Metro Manila Included in the September 1 Palace Suspension?
As of the latest Palace announcement Monday evening, Metro Manila is not included among the 15 provinces covered by Memorandum Circular No. 133.
That means there is no blanket Palace-ordered suspension of face-to-face classes throughout NCR under this particular memorandum as of this update.
However, that does not prevent individual Metro Manila local governments from announcing their own suspensions if conditions worsen.
PAGASA expects Metro Manila to experience cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms due to the Southwest Monsoon on September 1.
Parents and students in NCR should therefore continue monitoring announcements tonight and early Tuesday morning.
Is Cavite Included in #WalangPasok September 1?
Cavite is also not included in the 15 provinces named in the Palace’s September 1 directive.
However, PAGASA expects the Habagat to continue affecting CALABARZON, including possible scattered rains and thunderstorms.
This means individual cities and municipalities in Cavite may still issue localized class suspensions depending on flooding, rainfall warnings and conditions on the ground.
Students in Bacoor, Imus, Dasmariñas, General Trias, Trece Martires, Tanza, Kawit, Naic and other parts of the province should continue checking their respective LGU announcements.
Do not rely on viral graphics or screenshots alone. Look for announcements posted through official city, municipal, provincial or school accounts.
Why Are Classes Being Suspended?
The biggest weather factor affecting the country right now is the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat.
PAGASA expects the Habagat to continue affecting Luzon and the western portion of the Visayas on September 1.
Monsoon rains are expected over the Ilocos Region, Abra and Benguet, while occasional rains are forecast over areas including Batanes, Nueva Vizcaya, Bataan, Zambales, Tarlac, Pampanga and Nueva Ecija.
Metro Manila, CALABARZON and several other areas could also experience scattered rains and thunderstorms.
This is particularly concerning because some communities have already experienced repeated rainfall and flooding over the past several days.
Even moderate additional rainfall can create problems when rivers, drainage systems and soil are already saturated.
Tropical Depression Pilandok Is Also Being Monitored
Adding to the weather situation is Tropical Depression Pilandok.
According to PAGASA’s 5:00 PM bulletin on August 31, the center of Pilandok was estimated at approximately 1,145 kilometers east of Extreme Northern Luzon.
It had maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kilometers per hour.
Pilandok was moving west-northwestward at around 10 kilometers per hour.
The good news is that PAGASA currently considers Pilandok unlikely to make landfall in the Philippines.
However, it remains relevant because of its interaction with the weather pattern affecting the country.
PAGASA expects Pilandok to possibly intensify into a tropical storm on September 1 before eventually moving toward southern Japan. It may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Wednesday afternoon or evening.
Strong Winds and Rough Seas Also Expected
Rain is not the only concern.
PAGASA said the Southwest Monsoon could produce strong to gale-force gusts over most of Luzon and the Visayas from September 1 through September 2.
Rough to very rough sea conditions are also expected over several coastal areas.
Forecast waves could reach as high as 4.5 meters along the western seaboards of the Babuyan Islands and Ilocos Norte.
Rough seas are also forecast in coastal waters off Batanes, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Zambales, Pangasinan and Bataan.
PAGASA has warned that sea travel may be risky, particularly for small vessels and motorbancas.
Travelers planning boat trips should check with the Philippine Coast Guard and their shipping company before heading to the port.
Why More #WalangPasok Announcements Could Still Come
The current list should not necessarily be considered final.
Under the Palace memorandum, local chief executives in areas not covered by the national directive may still implement localized suspensions of classes and government work based on conditions in their communities.
This is why a city or municipality outside the 15 provinces may suddenly announce #WalangPasok later tonight or early Tuesday.
Several factors can trigger local action, including:
- heavy rainfall warnings
- rising river levels
- flooded roads
- landslide risks
- inaccessible schools
- dangerous travel conditions
- strong winds
- local emergency assessments
A province does not necessarily have to be experiencing continuous heavy rainfall at the time of the announcement. Officials may suspend classes in advance if they believe conditions could become dangerous during school hours.
What Students and Parents Should Do Tonight
If you’re still waiting to find out whether classes are suspended in your area, avoid relying only on social media reposts.
Check these sources:
Your LGU’s official page
City and municipal governments are usually among the first to announce localized suspensions.
Your provincial government
Governors may issue province-wide suspensions when conditions affect several municipalities.
Your school
Private schools and universities may announce their own arrangements even when their city has not issued a blanket suspension.
PAGASA
Monitor rainfall warnings, weather advisories and tropical cyclone bulletins.
Trusted news organizations
Running #WalangPasok lists from established news organizations are useful when announcements begin coming from dozens of LGUs at the same time.
Most importantly, check the time and date on every advisory. Old #WalangPasok graphics are frequently reshared during bad weather.
What If Your Area Is Not on the List?
If your province, city or municipality does not appear on the current list, classes should not automatically be considered suspended.
Wait for an official announcement.
Remember that announcements can be very specific. One LGU may suspend:
- all classes
- only face-to-face classes
- Preschool to Senior High School only
- public schools only
- both public and private schools
- selected barangays only
Some schools may also shift to online or modular classes instead of cancelling the school day completely.
Always read the entire advisory instead of relying solely on the words “Walang Pasok.”
#WalangPasok September 1, 2026 FAQ
Are classes suspended tomorrow, September 1, 2026?
Yes. Face-to-face classes are suspended in 15 Luzon provinces under Memorandum Circular No. 133, while several LGUs have also announced localized suspensions.
What provinces are covered by the Palace announcement?
The provinces are Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Batanes, Nueva Vizcaya, Bataan, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales.
Are private schools included?
Yes. Alternative learning modes and learning continuity measures apply to public and private schools at all levels in the areas covered by the Palace directive, unless their respective local chief executives issue different instructions.
Does Walang Pasok mean there are no online classes?
Not necessarily. The national directive suspends face-to-face classes. Schools may implement online, modular, asynchronous or other alternative learning arrangements.
Is Metro Manila suspended on September 1?
Metro Manila is not included in the 15 areas listed under Memorandum Circular No. 133 as of the latest Palace announcement Monday evening. Individual NCR LGUs may still issue localized announcements.
Is Cavite included?
Cavite is not among the 15 provinces covered by the September 1 Palace directive as of this update. Localized suspensions may still be announced depending on weather conditions.
Is Rizal included?
Rizal province is not among the provinces named in MC 133, but Rodriguez or Montalban has separately announced a class suspension.
Is government work suspended?
In-person government work is suspended in the 15 covered provinces, with alternative work arrangements to be implemented. Essential government services will continue operating.
Are private offices suspended?
Not automatically. Private companies will decide whether to suspend work or implement alternative arrangements.
Why were classes suspended?
The suspensions were ordered because of continued heavy rainfall associated with the enhanced Southwest Monsoon, which could cause flooding, landslides and traffic disruptions.
Final Reminder
September is beginning with another round of bad weather for many communities in Luzon.
The most important update right now is that Malacañang has officially ordered alternative learning arrangements and suspended face-to-face classes in 15 provinces for Tuesday, September 1, 2026, while government offices in those areas will also adopt alternative work arrangements.
But the #WalangPasok list can still grow.
Areas such as Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and other provinces experiencing rain should continue monitoring their local governments because localized suspensions may still be announced depending on conditions overnight and early Tuesday.
For students, this is also a reminder that “no face-to-face classes” does not always mean “no classes.” Check whether your school will conduct online lessons, asynchronous activities or modular learning.
And for everyone heading outside, don’t underestimate the Habagat. Avoid flooded roads, watch for landslide warnings and keep checking PAGASA and your LGU for emergency advisories.
This article will need to be updated as additional cities, municipalities, provinces and schools announce their September 1, 2026 class and work arrangements.
