2 Metro cities under ‘extreme caution’ level
The Department of Education (DepEd) yesterday afternoon said all schools in the National Capital Region (NCR) – both public and private – suspended in-person learning in all levels due to heat.
The announcement came hours after various schools in Metro Manila cancelled face-to-face classes and went online following the Monday forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) that the heat index across most regions in the country will hit 27 to 46 degree Celsius.
The weather bureau yesterday said Dagupan City in Pangasinan is forecast to experience today and tomorrow a 42 degrees Celsius “danger level” heat index.
PAGASA classifies heat index ranging from 42 to 51 degrees Celsius as belonging to the “danger” level.
“Heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely; heat stroke is probable with continued exposure,” it warned.
Dagupan City recorded a heat index of 42 degrees Celsius yesterday.
In Metro Manila, PAGASA said Pasay City and Quezon City are forecast to have a heat index of 39 and 38 degrees Celsius, respectively, today.
On Wednesday, Pasay City and Quezon City are forecast to have a heat index of 40 and 39 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Yesterday, the heat index in Pasay City was measured at 38 degrees, and Quezon City had a heat index of 37 degrees.
Last Sunday’s heat index in the two cities was placed at 41 and 38 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Heat index ranging from 33 to 41 degrees Celsius are classified by PAGASA as “extreme caution” level. It warned that heat cramps and heat exhaustion are possible and continuing activity under such heat index could lead to heat stroke.
PAGASA administrator Nathaniel Servando said the northeast monsoon, or “amihan,” may already end on the second half of this month, marking the beginning of the warm and dry season.
“We are yet to declare the start of the warm and dry season. We are still in the amihan season, though we are actually transitioning towards the dry season,” Servando said.
“By the middle of March, we may terminate amihan. By the second half of March, we are expecting the start of the dry and warm season,” he said, adding the warm and dry season may persist until May.
CLASS SUSPENSIONS
Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna Pangan said the class suspension in the city was recommended by the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO).
“Based on the recommendation of the Manila DRRMO, afternoon classes in all levels in public and private schools are suspended on March 3, 2025,” Lacuna-Pangan said.
“According to the weather forecast of the MDRRMO, Manila heat index (Monday) morning will range from 36 to 38 degrees, with peak heat index of 42 degrees to be felt around 2pm (Monday),” she added.
Malabon Mayor Jeannie Sandoval also advised schools in the city to shift to modular distance learning, while Las Piñas city Mayor Imelda Aguilar also suspended classes in the city and directed schools to go online.
Afternoon classes in Marikina City in all levels were also suspended, as well as in Parañaque City. The suspension of face-to-face classes in Parañaque also included the tertiary level.
Kindergarten to senior high school classes in Caloocan City were likewise cancelled, while schools in Valenzuela City shifted to online classes.
In- person classes in Pasay City, including the city government-run City University of Pasay were also suspended.
HEAT-RELATED ILLNESSES
The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday warned the public on the possibility of developing heat-related illnesses due to the high temperatures.
In a statement, the DOH said heat indexes of 42 to 51 degrees Celsius can result to heat cramps and heat exhaustion.
“Having extended exposure to this type of heat increases the possibility of having heat stroke,” it added.
Heat cramps and heat exhaustion carry symptoms such as exhaustion, dizziness, headache, and vomiting.
On the other hand, heat stroke is a serious medical condition that can lead to fainting, seizure, and possible death if left unattended.
For those experiencing such symptoms, the health department said they must be transferred to cool and shaded areas with proper ventilation; applied cold compress or ice packs in the head, face, neck, armpits, and wrists areas; and made to sip cold water.
The DOH also urged the public to bring the patient to the nearest hospital or call for emergency services.
It likewise urged the public to drink enough water while avoiding iced tea, soda, coffee, or alcoholic drinks to prevent heat-related illnesses.
It likewise advised the public, especially the elderly, to limit their outdoor exposure between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; use protective items such as hats, umbrellas, and sunblock; and wear loose and light clothing.
‘HEAT BREAKS’
Meanwhile, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) yesterday called on employers to give “heat breaks” to workers in the workplace to prevent heat-related illnesses.
In a statement, the TUCP said: “The TUCP urges all workplaces to immediately adopt and enforce heat break, especially for outdoor workers, during the hottest part of the day, such as around 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., which can be facilitated through flexible work time arrangements.”
The labor group said the heat breaks are imperative as no worker should suffer heat exhaustion, collapse from dehydration, or die on the job due to preventable heat stress.
“Protecting workers from extreme heat is not optional but a shared moral and legal obligation,” TUCP said.
Aside from the heat breaks, it said workplaces should also adopt a buddy system as a proactive monitoring mechanism for workers to check on each other’s well-being.
It also urged workplaces to hold mandatory heat stress orientations, wherein workers are taught about hydration reminders, flagging heat stress symptoms, and the corresponding treatment.
The TUCP also demanded the full implementation of Labor Advisory No. 8, – 2023, which mandates all employers to conduct heat-related health risk assessments, improve workplace ventilation, provide sufficient drinking water, adjust work-rest cycles, and implement education campaigns on heat stress prevention.
“These measures are not just recommendations. These are life-or-death necessities. These are not a burden but a win-win investment in worker safety and productivity. We demand immediate action before lives are lost,” it said. – With Gerard Naval
