Heat wave shuts down schools

SOARING temperatures shut down schools in nearly half of Metro Manila on Monday, local officials said, as the torrid dry season began. A national weather service advisory warned the heat index, a measure of air temperature and relative humidity, was set to reach "danger" levels in Manila and two other areas of the country. "Heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely" at that level, the advisory said, warning residents in affected areas to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun. Classes at all levels in public and private schools in Manila, Pasay, Malabon, Las Piñas, and Parañaque were suspended because of extreme heat, the Department of Education (DepEd) said. Manila City Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan announced the cancellation of classes in all levels for the afternoon. "Keep yourselves hydrated," said Lacuna, reminding the public to take precautions as the heat index rises. In Marikina, there was early dismissal for morning classes, the DepEd said. The department also said that public kindergarten to senior high school classes were suspended in Caloocan and Valenzuela. A heat wave struck large areas of the Philippines in April and May last year, leading to almost daily suspensions of in-person classes, affecting millions of students. Manila's temperature hit a record 38.8 Celsius (101.8 F) on April 27 last year. While temperatures were only expected to hit 33 C on Monday, local governments in Manila and six other districts ordered classrooms closed as a precaution. The capital region has a student population of more than 2.8 million according to Education Department data. In Malabon, Education Department official Edgar Bonifacio said the suspensions affected more than 68,000 students across 42 schools. "We were surprised by the heat index advisory," Bonifacio said, adding: "We cannot feel the heat yet outside." However, due to protocols adopted during last year's heat wave, the district's school superintendent recommended suspending in-person classes. "Our main concern is we're near the end of the school year (in mid-April)," Bonifacio said. "This would mean a reduction of the number of school days available." In Valenzuela, school official Annie Bernardo said its 69 schools had been instructed to shift to "alternative" learning models, including online classes. The heat index hit 49 degrees Celsius in Nueva Ecija on Tuesday. Administrator Nathaniel Servando of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) cited a two-day (March 3 and 4) heat index forecast in which Quezon City and Pampanga residents would swelter at 46 degrees Celsius. A heat index of 40 degrees Celsius would possibly be experienced in areas in Pangasinan, Cavite, Cagayan and Isabela while 44 degrees Celsius and 43 degrees Celsius in Olongapo City and Bataan, respectively, based on the same two-day forecast, Servando told The Manila Times. The national weather agency defines the heat index as "what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with air." A heat index from 27 degrees Celsius to 32 degrees Celsius falls under Pagasa's "caution" level while 32 degrees Celsius to 41 degrees Celsius, calls for "extreme caution." A temperature of 41 degrees Celsius to 54 degrees Celsius qualifies for "danger" level. "During hot weather, let us avoid being exposed longer to direct sunlight and drink plenty of water. Also, wear light clothing, bring umbrellas or hats when outdoors," the Pagasa chief reminded the public. In a statement on Monday, Alliance of Concerned Teachers Philippines Chairman Vladimer Quetua pushed for long-term solutions even as he said that the suspension of classes was "necessary." Quetua pushed for speeding up the construction of 15,000 climate-resilient classrooms and a significant increase in the 2026 budget for school infrastructure. Global average temperatures hit record highs in 2024 and even briefly surpassed the critical 1.5 degrees Celsius warming threshold.