SOME areas might experience an “extreme danger” heat index, or 52 degrees Celsius and above, during the warm and dry season, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday.
“There is a possibility that some areas will experience what we call extreme danger (heat index), 52 degrees Celsius and above,” PAGASA Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section chief Ana Solis said during the “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon” public briefing.
Solis did not say what areas may experience the extreme danger heat index.
According to PAGASA, heat index is the “measure of the contribution that high humidity makes with abnormally high temperatures in reducing the body’s ability to cool itself.”
It said heat stroke is imminent during such extreme danger heat index.
“If we are exposed to direct sunlight, heat stroke is imminent or probable so we should avoid that (exposure),” said Solis.
Solis said it is also possible the country will experience warmer temperature next month.
She said PAGASA has earlier projected that the highest temperature this month could reach 39.7 degrees Celsius, but last Monday, the weather bureau already recorded a 40 degrees temperature in Echaque, Isabela.
“Before the onset of the warm and dry season, DOST-PAGASA said that this (year) could be one of the warmest warm and dry months… So that is what we are experiencing now due to the ongoing El Niño,” said Solis.
On the possibility of hotter temperature next month, Solis said: “Well as of now, we already said that as early as April, we already recorded 40 degrees.”
“Historically, we record high temperature during the months of April as well as May. So we’re seeing that it’s possible it will be warmer and temperatures will go up,” she added.
According to PAGASA, most parts of the country experienced “way below normal” rainfall from April 1 to 17, which is expected due to El Niño – a weather phenomenon that increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall conditions that may lead to dry spells and droughts.
DANGEROUS HEAT INDEX
PAGASA said 20 areas are expected to experience danger level heat index today.
A heat index ranging from 42 to 51 degrees Celsius has been classified by PAGASA under the danger level. It said heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely to be experienced by residents, while heat stroke is possible under this condition.
Dagupan City in Pangasinan, and Aborlan town in Palawan are forecast to have a heat index of 45 degrees Celsius, while Puerto Princesa City in Palawan is expected to have a heat index of 44 degrees.
On the other hand, forecast to have a 43 degrees heat index are Bacnotan town in La Union, Tuguegarao City in Cagayan, Sangley Point in Cavite, Tanauan town in Batangas, Iloilo City and Dumangas town in Iloilo, Catarman town in Northern Samar, and Guiuan town in Eastern Samar.
Batac town in Ilocos Norte, Aparri town in Cagayan, Echague town in Isabela, Coron town in Palawan, San Jose town in Occidental Mindoro, Virac town in Catanduanes, Pili town in Camarines Sur, Roxas City in Capiz, and Cotabato City in Maguindanao del Sur are forecast to have a heat index of 42 degrees Celsius.
‘NO ORDER’
Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) yesterday said it did not authorize anyone to sell shirts printed with the department’s logo that teachers and non-teaching staff can use as alternative uniforms amid the extreme summer heat.
DepEd Assistant Secretary and deputy spokesperson Francis Cesar Bringas issued the statement after the department received reports of such shirts being peddled online to encourage teachers and non-teaching personnel to buy new uniforms.
“So social media, naglipana talaga ang enterprising individuals and groups na gustong kumita (Social media is full of enterprising individuals and groups who want to earn). But DepEd did not authorize anyone or any group to sell,” Bringas said.
Asked how these individuals managed to get hold of the DepEd seal or logos and print it on the shirts they are peddling, Bringas said they are readily accessible on the Internet.
“Remember that the DepEd seal and Matatag seal, like all other seals and logos, are readily accessible on the Internet,” he said.
On Wednesday, DepEd reiterated its reminder to teachers and non-teaching staff that they can wear any collared shirts they have used in previous national or local events as alternative uniforms.
These events include the Brigada Eskwela, Palarong Pambansa, Oplan Balik Eskwela and Regional, Division and School Press Conferences.
Teachers and non-teaching personnel may also wear “white collared polo shirts with the DepEd and MATATAG logo.” — With Ashzel Hachero
