WITH heat indexes expected to continue rising in the coming days and weeks, the Department of Health (DOH) yesterday directed all health establishments across the country to put up cooling centers and hydration stations to prevent heat-related illnesses.
In Memorandum No. 2025-0114, the DOH said hospitals and medical institutions should make such facilities open to the public.
“Cooling centers are air-conditioned or well-ventilated areas close to public transportation routes that shall be made available and accessible to the general public, with priority to the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities,” the DOH said.
“Hydration stations will make clean and safe drinking water continuously available to the public in all DOH facilities, especially during the anticipated peak hot hours,” it added.
It also directed all medical centers and health facilities to maintain adequate water supply and anticipate intermittent supply in electricity.
The DOH said that due to the warm and dry weather, health establishments should anticipate an increase in consultations from infectious, dermatologic, food and waterborne, or systemic illnesses, diseases, or disorders, such as heat stroke, dehydration, and malnutrition.
It also said all health emergency response teams and health facilities personnel and staff must be able to recognize and respond to severe heat-related emergencies and to be aware of signs and symptoms of more severe heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
They were also directed to ensure the availability of essential commodities, medicines and other resources, such as IV fluids, antibiotics, oral rehydration solutions, laboratory supplies, and testing kits, through the conduct of regular inventories.
The DOH memorandum was issued amid rising heat indexes in the country as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecast the end of the “amihan” season and the start of the warm and dry season.
Extreme heat poses significant health risks, particularly heat-related illnesses, such as dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.
HOT WEATHER
The PAGASA said Dagupan City in Pangasinan and Virac town in Catanduanes experienced yesterday a danger level heat index of 44 degrees and 43 degrees Celsius, respectively.
In a 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said no areas are forecast to experience danger level heat index today.
On Tuesday however, Virac is forecast to have a heat index of 42 degrees.
PAGASA 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.
Pasay City and Quezon City experienced a heat index of 36 and 35 degrees (extreme caution level), respectively, yesterday.
Today, Pasay City and Quezon City are forecast to have a heat index of 36 and 34 degrees, respectively. It will be hotter on Tuesday in these two cities, with a heat index hitting 38 and 34 degrees, respectively.
HIGH-RISK WORKERS
The Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC) yesterday urged private sector employers to consider transferring vulnerable workers to cooler work stations, while also exploring the need to employ work-from-home arrangements.
In a television interview, BWC Director Alvin Curada encouraged workplaces to transfer elderly workers and personnel with comorbidities to areas that are not exposed to high temperature.
If applicable, Curada said employers may also want to consider adopting work-from-home schemes for workers who want to avail them.
“We also promote the adoption of telecommuting, and other alternative work arrangements,” he said.
Such work arrangements, Curada said, would require a policy that is agreed by the employer and employees sectors in the workplace.
“The metrics or qualifications on who can work at home and up to what extent will the work-from-home arrangement will be, must be discussed by the employers and employees,” he said.
The Department of Labor and Employment had earlier reiterated its call for adherence to its Labor Advisory No. 08-2023, which set guidelines on preventing heat stress in the workplace. – With Victor Reyes
