Manila: Local government units (LGUs) have the final say on suspending classes or implementing preemptive evacuation due to geological hazards, the head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) stated. "We don't recommend suspension of classes or preemptive evacuation. The final decision is up to the LGUs according to their mandates and based on their assessment of the local conditions," Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol explained in an interview.

According to Philippines News Agency, Bacolcol's clarification comes amid reports of class suspensions due to the ongoing series of earthquakes, or swarm, around Sultan Kudarat. He emphasized that Phivolcs only recommends evacuation when there is an impending tsunami. Currently, there has been no recorded tsunamigenic event or earthquake that generates a tsunami.

Between 10:52 p.m. on January 19 and 7 a.m. on January 29, Phivolcs logged 2,264 earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from 1.3 to 5.9 around Sultan Kudarat. Of these, 677 were plotted or located, while 84 were felt by residents.

Phivolcs has been advising the public to "duck, cover and hold" during an earthquake. Bacolcol also reiterated the importance of vigilance in coastal communities and urged them to observe signs of tsunamis, such as strong shaking, a roaring sound, and a sudden drop in sea level. "When they observe even one of the three signs, they should evacuate immediately to a higher ground," he advised.