THE Department of Education (DepEd)-Schools Division Office of Manila has ordered all public schools in the city to only hold morning face-to-face classes starting April 11 until May 28 amid the high heat index forecast of the weather bureau.
In a memorandum dated April 8 and signed by Manila City Schools Division Office Education Supervisor Nerissa Lomeda, all public schools in Manila were directed to adjust their class schedules.
“In view of the onset of summer season where dangerous level of heat index is expected, all public schools in the Division shall conduct classes only from 6 a.m. to 12 noon from April 11 to May 28, 2024,” the memorandum said.
The decision, the memo stated, was reached following a series of consultative meetings with various education stakeholders, “in careful consideration” of all related DepEd issuances.
However, teachers are still required to continue reporting to schools despite the adjusted class settings.
“It must be noted that teachers shall report to school, regardless of the implemented modality, either to conduct online teaching, prepare activity sheets, check and record learners’ output, monitor learners’ progress, or to fulfill year-end tasks,” the memo stated.
District school supervisors were also directed to provide technical assistance to schools in coming up with re-programmed class schedules, including but not limited to blended modality.
The memo also states that school heads, schools parents-teachers associations, and faculty clubs can likewise design their own schedules to fit their respective schools, as long as it complies with the parameters set by the DepEd.
Last Friday, DepEd Assistant Secretary and Deputy Spokesperson Francis Cesar Bringas said regional directors and superintendents have the authority to move class schedules to early morning or late afternoon due to the intolerable heat this summer.
Bringas added that schools outdoor activities may be omitted between 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. to prevent students from having direct exposure to the sun.
DANGER LEVEL HEAT INDEX
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) yesterday said seven areas in Luzon and Mindanao may experience danger level heat index today.
PAGASA said Dagupan City in Pangasinan is forecast to have a heat index of 44 degrees Celsius, while Bacnotan town in La Union and Puerto Princesa City and Aborlan town both in Palawan will have a eat index of 42 degrees Celsius.
Clark Airport in Pampanga, San Jose town in Occidental Mindoro, and Cotabato City in Maguindanao del Norte are also forecast to have a heat index of 42 degrees Celsius.
A heat index ranging from 42 to 51 degrees Celsius is classified by PAGASA under the “danger” level.
“Heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely,” it said, adding that “heat stroke is possible with continued exposure.”
LABOR ADVISORY REVIEW
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) yesterday called on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to consider reviewing its existing policy on how workplaces can protect workers from the sweltering heat.
In a statement, the TUCP said it is imperative for DOLE to make the policy fair and just, and not only favorable to employers.
“The TUCP urges DOLE to revisit Labor Advisory No. 17 in the light of temperature hitting ‘dangerous levels’ across the nation. Labor Advisory No. 17 only superficially addresses the plight of workers soaked in sweat under the sun,” it said.
In particular, the labor group opposed the exercise of management prerogative in suspending work during “weather disturbances.”
It noted that the labor advisory provides that such suspension of work will result to the implementation of the “no work, no pay” policy, which it said “may unduly deprive workers, especially daily wage earners… of badly-needed income to feed their families.”
“Any intervention should be done without neglecting the need of workers to put food on the table,” it stressed.
Last Sunday, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said that Labor Advisory No. 17 may be applicable amid the prevailing extreme heat felt across the country.
This, Laguesma said, means that a worker is justified not to report/render work in case he or she is facing actual or imminent danger brought by the extreme heat.
In reviewing the said Labor Advisory, the TUCP said DOLE may want to consider adopting the group’s Heat Risk Action Plan proposal, which includes heat breaks, buddy system, hydration facilities, a good ventilation system, and heat stress orientation.
“A balanced approach to mitigating measures on climate change effect on business should be pursued by the DOLE, where workers and their livelihood are not cast aside,” said the group.
“A Heat Risk Action Plan should be in place and the TUCP stands ready to work together with our social partners in DOLE and employers in setting it into motion nationwide,” it added.
HEAT WARNING SYSTEM
Likewise, Manila Rep. Joel Chua urged local government units (LGU) to adopt a heat warning system similar to the one used for typhoons to determine the specific measures to be taken for each heat level.
While LGUs may refer to the weekly PAGASA heat index with a two-day forecast and monthly rainfall forecasts, Chua said the heat index indicates only the symptoms people will feel at different temperature ranges and “does not show what steps LGUs should take.”
“That is where the mayor, governors, barangay chairpersons, and their local legislative bodies can step in. It would be best if they approve ordinances and issue executive orders detailing the steps and measures at each heat index level,” he said.
The Manila lawmaker proposed that the lowest heat index level ranging from 27 to 32 degrees Celsius be called “Caution,” under which the symptoms would include fatigue and cramps from prolonged heat exposure.
He said local chief executives should tell their residents that seniors, PWDs, people with co-morbidities and special needs, infants, and small children should stay out of the sun, stay indoors, keep hydrated and inform the barangay of their health status.
Chua said the next level could be “Extreme Caution,” with the temperature ranging from 33 to 41 degrees Celsius with symptoms of heat exhaustion and cramps and a risk of heat stroke for certain activities.
Under the second heat level, he said F2F classes from Kindergarten to Grade 6 should be suspended and high school students should not have any outdoor open-air activities, and should stay in the classroom while staying hydrated.
“The backup would be using learning modules at home or remote learning. Seniors, PWDs, people with comorbidities and special needs, should stay at home and be told not to go outdoors,” Chua said.
He said Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs) and Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) should be mobilized to respond to emergencies with onsite first aid and hydration remedies while the local Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and Disaster Risk Reduction Management Offices (DRRMO) should be on standby for emergencies and fires.
The third level is “Danger,” which has a temperature ranging from 42 to 51 degrees Celsius.
Under this level, Chua said classes and work must be suspended in the public and private sectors, including any activities on weekends and everyone must stay indoors while staying hydrated.
He said those under work-from-home arrangements should stay home and all emergency response personnel and offices must be on red alert and ready to assist affected individuals.
The fourth and final level is “Extreme Caution to Extreme Danger,” which can be declared when the temperature is higher than 51 degrees Celsius. At this level, the lawmaker said mandatory energy and water conservation measures can be implemented in government workplaces. In private workplaces, the energy and water conservation measures would be voluntary.
“Windows of homes should be opened to let air circulate. Air conditioning should be limited to bedrooms only. Washing of motor vehicles should be stopped to save water. Watering of plants and gardens should be done only during early morning. Watering of golf courses should be done only at night. Malls may serve as a safe refuge from the outdoor heat.
Businesses that supply water and ice should be assisted to serve their customers, especially the poor who have no refrigerators. Price controls should be in place to make sure businesses do not do price gouging on water, ice, and non-alcoholic beverages.
Barangays must be on red alert for fires,” he said.
The lawmaker said barangays should also train their residents on first aid for cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, strokes, heart attacks, hypoglycemia attacks, and other first aid emergencies and water sources and distribution pipes must be checked to make sure they are safe from bacterial and viral contamination.
He said fire safety measures must likewwise be in place at every barangay. Water, sand, and fire extinguishers must be ready and roads and alleys should be clear of blockages to responding firefighters.
SUMMER-RELATED AILMENTS
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said hypertension is so far the leading summer-related ailment and disease recorded among persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) or inmates last month.
BJMP spokesman Chief Inspector Jayrex Bustinera said 2,578 cases of hypertension were recorded among the PDLs, followed by toothache with 1,673 cases.
The three other leading ailments and diseases among the PDLs during the summer period were acute gastroenteritis with 1,466 cases; boil with 600 cases; and gastritis with 554 cases.
Bustinera said there was no reported hospitalization of inmates due to these ailments and diseases.
“Per our recent monitoring, we have recorded the following leading cases of consultation to our jail infirmaries as of March 2024,” said Bustinera, referring to the five ailments and diseases which totaled 6,871.
Bustinera said the same cases were also reported during the summer period of March to May last year.
From March to May last year, the BJMP recorded 13,269 ailment and diseases among inmates, led by boil cases with 4,545.
Bustinera reiterated that the bureau has already taken steps to address these concerns, including the installation of industrial fans, exhaust fans and air shafts in jail facilities.
The others, he said, are procurement of medicines for summer-related ailments and diseases, training of nurses, recruitment of additional doctors, coordination with the fire department in case of water interruption, health education of the PDLs, and continuous implementation of jail decongestion programs.
The BJMP manages 482 city, district and municipal jails nationwide, of which 326 are congested while the rest are not congested. — With Victor Reyes, Gerard Naval and Wendell Vigilia
