EDUCATION Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara yesterday said the Department of Education (DepEd) will adjust class schedules to ensure the well-being of learners and teachers amid the threat posed by rising temperatures in the country.
Aside from adjusting class schedules, Angara said he has already instructed DepEd field offices and schools to adopt other measures such as the conduct of alternative modes of learning, if necessary; improve classroom ventilation, and ensure easy access to hydration stations to mitigate the effects of extreme heat as the dry, warm season approaches.
“We are deeply concerned about our learners’ and teachers’ safety. We are closely coordinating with our field offices to assess the situation in schools and determine the best course of action given the extreme heat,” Angara told reporters.
He said schools may conduct morning sessions from 6 to 10 a.m., and afternoon sessions from 2 to 6 p.m., while asynchronous learning maybe held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“Additional rest and hydration breaks are encouraged, particularly in non-air-conditioned classrooms,” he added.
Schools are also advised to maximize natural ventilation by opening windows, removing obstructions that restrict airflow, and installing additional fans and cooling devices.
Other safety measures, the DepEd chief said, include limiting outdoor activities during peak heat hours, ensuring access to potable water, and providing first-aid kits with cooling packs and emergency thermometers.
DepEd health personnel are also tasked with monitoring cases of heat-related illnesses, such as heat cramps, exhaustion, and stroke.
Angara clarified there is no automatic suspension of classes due to extreme heat under its current policy.
However, he said local chief executives may declare class suspensions in affected areas.
In this scenario, he added, schools will shift to alternative learning performance-based tasks, or make-up classes to ensure that learning competencies are still met.
In case there is no automatic suspension of classes and in the absence of a declaration from the LGU, DepEd’s policy also allows school heads and Alternative Learning System coordinators to suspend in-person classes if excessive heat poses health risks to students and teachers.
Yesterday, the provincial government of Cavite suspended classes in all levels, while the Pasay city local government cancelled face-to-face classes in all levels in both public and private schools until today.
In-person classed were also suspended in public and private schools from Kinder to Senior High School in
San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.
DANGEROUS HEAT INDEX
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) yesterday said Occidental Mindoro is forecast to experience a “danger” level heat index of 42 degrees Celsius today.
On Friday, PAGASA said two areas are also forecast to have danger level heat index. These are Zambales and Occidental Mindoro, which are both forecast to have a heat index of 42 degrees Celsius.
Yesterday, five areas a danger level heat index of 42 to 43 degrees was felt in Isabela, Aurora, Occidental Mindoro, Camarines Sur and Catanduanes.
The weather bureau classifies heat index ranging from 42 to 51 degrees Celsius as dangerous. People are likely to experience heat cramps and heat exhaustion, and heat stroke is probable if there is continued exposure.
HEAT STROKE BREAK
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) yesterday reimposed the 30-minute “heat stroke break” policy for its field personnel, particularly traffic enforcers and street sweepers, to protect them from heat-related illness.
MMDA chairperson Don Artes said the heat stroke break shall be done alternately by those who are assigned in a particular areas to maintain the visibility of traffic enforcers and street sweepers and to ensure field operations are not hampered.
The policy will be implemented daily through a rotation schedule until May 31.
“We acknowledge the challenges being faced by our traffic enforcers and street sweepers who diligently work in the heat to fulfill their duties and responsibilities; their well-being is crucial and this initiative seeks to mitigate health-related illnesses among them, especially with the sudden rise in the heat index in Metro Manila,” Artes said in a memorandum.
Under the heat stroke break policy, on-duty traffic enforcers and street sweepers are allowed to leave their posts in shifts to rehydrate, seek shelter from the sun, and take a 30-minute break to avoid heat stroke.
For traffic enforcers working in four different shifts, there is a prescribed “30-minute heat stroke break” depending on their shifts.
The breaks will be from 10 to 10:30 a.m. or 10:30 to 11 a.m. for the 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. shift; 2:30 to 3 p.m. or 3 to 3:3o p.m. for the 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. shift; 11 to 11:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. to 12 noon for the 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. shift; and 3 to 3:30 p.m. or 3:30 to 4 p.m. for the 2 to 10 p.m. shift.
For street sweepers working three shifts, there is likewise a heat stroke break based on their shifts: 11 to 11:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. to 12 noon for the 6 a.m. to 2 pm shift; 12 noon to 1 p.m. (regular break time) for the 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. shift; and 2:30 to 3 p.m. or 3 to 3:30 p.m. for the 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. shift.
Artes said to avoid heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and or heat cramps, field personnel could also take an additional 15-minute break time in case the heat index in Metro Manila reaches 40 degrees Celsius and above.
PHILHEALTH COVERAGE
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) yesterday assured its members that there is a benefit package that they can avail for heat-related illnesses.
In a televised public briefing, PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Dr. Edwin Mercado said they have an existing benefit package for heat stroke or heat exhaustion cases.
“In cases of heat stroke or heat exhaustion, wherein patients lose consciousness, we have a coverage of P12,675,” he said, adding a bigger benefit package is also available for those with complications.
“If it is heat fatigue and the case is complicated by arrhythmia or develops a problem in the rate of a person’s heartbeat, we have a coverage of P18,135,” he said.
The Department of Health (DOH) has earlier warned the public of developing heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion, due to the rising temperatures.
Heat-related emergencies can happen during prolonged exposure to high temperatures, which affects the body’s natural temperature control system. – With Victor Reyes and Gerard Naval
