BY ASHZEL HACHERO and VICTOR REYES
CLOSE to 4, 000 schools nationwide have suspended in-person classes and are now implementing the alternative distance learning mode (ADM) due to the very hot temperature.
Data provided by the Department of Education showed that 1,393,806 students from 3,954 schools are implementing ADM, representing 8.74 percent of the total number of preschools to senior high schools in the country.
On the other hand, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said it has already recorded heat-related diseases among inmates or persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) amid extreme heat inside jail facilities.
In a radio interview, BJMP chief Director Raul Rivera said they have taken steps to address the problem, including the hydration of the inmates and installation of additional ventilation system.
“Actually, there are already reported (cases of) sore eyes, skin diseases,” said Rivera, adding there are also reported cases of boils.
ADM
Of the 3,954 schools, the DepEd said 990 are in Region 6 ( Iloilo City Bacolod City, Roxas City, Himamaylan City, Kabankalan City, Guimaras, Silay City, Bago City, Iloilo Province, Passi City, San Carlos City and Negros Occidental); 801 in Region 12 (South Cotabato, General Santos City, Sultan Kudarat, Koronadal City and Cotabato); 694 in Region 7 (Lapu Lapu City, Talisay City, Naga City in Cebu and Negros Oriental); 581 in Region 1 (Dagupan City, Laoag City, Batac City and Pangasinan), and 199 in Central Luzon (Bataan, Bulacan, Tarlac, Mabalacat City, Malolos City, Meycauayan City, Olongapo City and San Jose Del Monte City).
Meanwhile, 162 schools in Biliran, Southern Leyte, and Maasin City also suspended in-person classes and 148 in Albay and 32 in Cavite province.
In Metro Manila, 183 schools are also in ADM mode. These are in Malabon, Caloocan, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Pasay, and San Juan.
The DepEd said 70 schools have also suspended face-to-face classes in Zamboanga del Sur, Dapitan City, Dipolog City and Pagadian City, as well as 87 in Mimaropa region.
Only three schools in Nueva Vizcaya have suspended F2F classes.
An order issued by DepEd last year allowed school heads to suspend classes due to extreme heat brought by the El Niño phenomenon.
The order said school heads may give “intervention activities” to make up for the lost day if classes are suspended.
Schools may also switch to alternative distance mode or blended learning if the environment is not conducive to learning.
HEAT-RELATED DISEASES
Asked how many cases were already reported in BJMP jails, Rivera said: “It’s low. Here in NCR (National Capital Region), it has yet to reach 100.” He said there are few cases reported in other regions.
Rivera said the BJMP has prepared for such diseases, noting that they have medicines on stock for these. Also, he said they have been distributing multivitamins to the inmates to improve their health.
Rivera said he has recently discussed with BJMP regional directors the measures that should be taken to mitigate the effects of extreme heat inside jails.
“I told them that our brothers who are in jail should be hydrated. Also, there should be good ventilation for them (inmates),” he said, adding that inmates are still allowed to get out of their cells for sunning despite the scorching heat.
“But they will have to stay at shady areas so they can still enjoy fresh air. We are still taking them out of their cell but we are bringing them to shady areas,” he added.
Rivera also said the BJMP has available medicines for ailments like high blood pressure.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said seven areas are forecast to have danger level heat index today.
These are in Catarman in Northern Samar with a projected heat index of 43 degrees Celsius, Dagupan in Pangasinan, Sangley Point in Cavite, Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, Pili in Camarines Norte, Dumangas in Iloilo, and Zamboanga City in Zamboanga del Sur.
WORKPLACES
Amid the soaring heat indexes in different parts of the country, labor groups yesterday appealed to employers to faithfully observe the advisory of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in improving heat-related woes in workplaces.
In separate interviews, Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) chairman Renato Magtubo and Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) secretary general Josua Mata said it is imperative for employers to adopt the DOLE guidelines if they truly care for their workers.
“We appeal to employers to take the lead in observing the effect of extreme heat to the working condition of their establishment or enterprise, and do make necessary adjustments to protect workers from extreme heat,” said Magtubo.
“Embracing the reality of climate change underscores the urgency for policies safeguarding workers, particularly those susceptible to heat-related illnesses,” said Mata.
Magtubo said employers may want to explore options of altering working schedules at the enterprise levels to avoid heat-related illnesses in the workplace.
“Work-from-home or flexi-time arrangements are options that the employer and worker may agree after consultation, if working condition in their establishment or enterprise is affected by extreme heat,” said Magtubo.
This was seconded by Mata, who said more basic policies may also be adopted in workplaces to address heat woes.
“Basic provisions, like access to drinking water and paid breaks during extreme heat, are essential minimum standards,” said Mata.
Last month, DOLE issued an advisory reminding employers to employ policies that will help reduce the adverse effects of extreme heat in workplaces.
These include the provision of adequate ventilation and heat insulation in workplaces, adjusting rest breaks or work locations, and the use of temperature-appropriate uniforms and personal protective equipment.
PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVES
President Marcos Jr. has reiterated his directives for all concerned agencies to ensure public safety and assist the farmers affected by the ongoing El Niño and the anticipated La Niña.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) yesterday said the President, during the 4th Task Force El Niño meeting last March 19, directed the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) to collaborate with the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) to gather data on both water oversupply and under supply situations throughout the country, as well as to engage in collaborative efforts to devise engineering solutions that will address the need for extreme water conservation measures.
Marcos also ordered raising public awareness on the importance of constructing additional dams in mitigating the challenges posed by the El Niño.
He also instructed the Department of Agriculture (DA) to closely coordinate with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) to assess any regulation barriers imposed by the insurance commission to ensure that prompt financial aid reaches affected farmers.
He also ordered the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to coordinate with the Department of Health (DOH) to assess and implement requisite measures to ensure the safety of health facilities or hospitals from the threat of fire hazards.
The OCD is also ordered to closely work with the Department of Tourism (DOT) to determine the impact of the El Niño phenomenon on tourist areas and eventually address issues related to water availability, energy resources, public health and safety concerns.
The PAGASA has said El Niño is already weakening but the summer season has also already started.
Around 80 provinces in the country are expected to be affected by the El Niño, in varying degrees such as drought, dry spell and dry conditions by end of April.
The DA’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center said the initial cost of damage to the agriculture sector of the effects of El Niño has surged by 50 percent to P2.63 billion from the previous P1.75 billion last March 14.
In its advisory, the DA-DRRMOC said that as of 12 noon of April 1, damage from the weather phenomenon is equivalent to 53,879 hectares (ha) of areas tended by 54,203 farmers in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula and Soccsksargen.
The total amount is also equivalent to a total volume loss of 116,792 metric tons (MT).
However, the DA emphasized that of the 53,879 ha affected, only 10,231 ha or 18.99 percent has no chance of recovery while the remaining 43,648 ha or 81.01 percent has a chance of recovery.
Initial El Niño agricultural damage from the said regions also amounted to 72,733 MT of rice worth P1.72 billion; 35,885 MT of corn worth P591.74 million; 8,173 MT of high value crops worth P326.68 million; and 32 heads of livestock and poultry worth over P59,000.
Amid the development, DA said it has so far provided P1.08 billion worth of assistance to affected farmers.
Among the biggest aid provided by the DA were financial assistance to 139,002 farmers in Cagayan Valley with a total amount of P701.96 million and another 71,795 farmers in Mimaropa with a total amount of P362.56 million.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources also provided 111 diversified alternative livelihoods and technologies to fisherfolks to mitigate possible losses in the fisheries sector.
The National Irrigation Administration has also installed 570 water augmentation pumps to ensure that there is water source in key areas.
DA Regional Field Offices in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Mimaropa regions have also endorsed the list of affected farmers to the Department of Social Welfare and Development as well as to the DOLE for other forms of assistance such as provision of food packs and cash for work programs. — With Gerard Naval, Jocelyn Montemayor and Jed Macapagal
