Region-wide class suspensions sought during heat warnings

MANILA, Philippines — Suspension of classes must be enforced region-wide when the state weather bureau reports danger-level heat warnings, according to public school teachers in Metro Manila.

With many cities failing to suspend classes during Monday’s heatwave warning, relying on the decision of local government units (LGUs) to suspend classes during the summer will not ensure the protection of learners and teachers, the Metro Manila union of the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition said.

“Metro Manila is a small and compact geographic unit. Implementing a region-wide class suspension should not be as complex as in larger provinces governed by a single governor,” said union vice president Jim Lester Beleno.

Six of 17 LGUs in Metro Manila suspended classes following the dangerous heatwave forecast by the state weather bureau: Valenzuela, Caloocan, Las Piñas, Malabon, Parañaque and Manila.

Some cities suspended classes in the afternoon.

The Department of Education (DepEd)’s mechanism for class suspension is ineffective, the TDC said, as it leaves the decision solely on the LGU.

“We urge the DepEd to take the lead in coordinating with LGUs to formulate a scheme that would ensure the safety of all students and school personnel in Metro Manila, not just in selected areas,” Beleno said.

A blanket suspension based on a unified regional scheme will eliminate disparities in implementation and ensure a uniform response, the TDC noted.

In Pangasinan, the town of Calasiao suspended classes yesterday amid the projected danger-level heat index in the afternoon.

The nearby Dagupan City experienced 42 degrees Celsius on Monday, according to the state weather bureau.

Following calls to return to the pre-pandemic school calendar that leaves schools empty at summer’s peak, calendar adjustments were approved by President Marcos, with classes opening by June 16 and ending March 31, 2026.

Protect workers

Employers should adopt measures against extreme heat, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Reiterating its 2024 advisory, DOLE said companies are encouraged to install effective ventilation and heat insulation systems to eliminate heat and humidity in workplaces.

Rest breaks or work location adjustments can also be adopted to allow workers’ recovery from heat exposure, the agency noted.

Temperature-appropriate uniforms and personal protective equipment can be provided to workers, it said.

Free drinking water should be available, it noted.

“We are reiterating our appeal for employers to comply with the advisory to protect the health and safety of their workers,” Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said.

Anti-poor

Shifting to online classes amid extreme heat is an anti-poor measure and a band-aid solution, according to youth group Kabataan.

“What we need is an additional budget for classrooms and other facilities to address the hot weather and heavy rains,” said Renee Louise Co, national spokesperson and first nominee of Kabataan in the May midterm elections.

“Big projects devastating natural resources and fanning global warming and climate change must be stopped,” she noted.

Neglect

The government’s neglect of public school infrastructure has led to worsening conditions amid extreme heat, according to ACT party-list Rep. France Castro and former congressman Antonio Tinio.

The Makabayan bloc filed House Bill 8550 in 2023, mandating the return of the June-March school calendar to address this problem, Castro and Tinio recalled.

“Our classrooms have become virtual ovens, with temperatures reaching dangerous levels that no child should have to endure while trying to learn,” they said.

Extreme heat has highlighted issues plaguing the education sector, including severe classroom shortages, inadequate ventilation and lack of health facilities, they noted.

Castro said the proposed measure she authored, House Bill 6398 or the Safe and Healthy Facilities for Educational Institutions Act, must be passed.

Funds for maintenance and other operating expenses must be released to schools for emergency cooling measures and the accelerated construction of climate-resilient classrooms, they said.

Inmates

Tank tops for inmates are being procured by the Bureau of Corrections amid the extreme heat.

BuCor chief Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. also directed officials to ensure consistent water supply in all prisons.

Catapang instructed Corrections Technical C. Supt. Maria Cecilia Villanueva to prepare for the dry season.

Villanueva, chief of the New Bilibid Prison Hospital, emphasized the urgency of implementing proactive measures to prevent heat-related illnesses in all BuCor facilities.

Hotline 143

People experiencing symptoms of heat-related illnesses are advised to call hotline 143 of the Philippine Red Cross.

The PRC offers round-the-clock ambulance services, with 178 units nationwide, PRC secretary general Gwen Pang said. — Jose Rodel Clapano, Mark Ernest Villeza, Cesar Ramirez, Rhodina Villanueva