MANILA - Universities and colleges in Metro Manila suspended classes on Friday as Tropical Storm Isang intensified, affecting more areas in Luzon.

At 4 a.m., the Department of Education (DepEd) announced the suspension of classes in elementary and highschool levels in private and public schools in Metro Manila.

Following DepEd's suspension, several colleges and universities suspended their classes.

These schools are: University of the Philippines in Diliman and Manila, Arellano University, Far Eastern University, University of the East-Manila and Caloocan, Philippine College of Criminology and Manila Law College, St. Paul's University, Asian Science Technological Institute-Malabon, St. Joseph College-Quezon City, University of Sto. Tomas, Dr. Carlos S. Lantin College-QC, STI-Caloocan, EARIST Manila, Adamson University, Samson College-Cubao and Manila, Philippine Christian University-Manila, Philippine College of University, St. Scholastica's College-Manila and Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Sta. Mesa.

Classes were suspended due to heavy rains brought on by Isang. Overnight rains have flooded several areas in Metro Manila, including the university belt area in Manila.

Based on weather bureau PAGASA's weather bulletin, Isang was located 150 kilometers east southeast of Aparri, Cagayan as of 4 a.m. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour with gusts of up to 100 kph.

It was moving west northwest at 15 kph and was expected to move 185 kilometers north of Laoag City or at 140 kilometers west southwest of Basco, Batanes by Saturday.

Storm signal No. 2 was hoisted ovwer Batanes, Cagayan (Babuyan and Calayan group of islands), Isabela, Kalinga, Apayao, Abra, and Ilocos Norte. Signal No. 1 was raised over northern Aurora, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Benguet, Mt. Province, Pangasinan, La Union and Ilocos Sur.

PAGASA advised residents living in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes with storm warning signals to be on alert for possible flashfloods and landslides.