Bataan sets halfday in-person classes due to extreme heat

SAMAL, Bataan, Philippines — Public schools in this province will hold shortened face-to-face classes starting next week amid extreme heat.

Maria Chona Villegas of the Calaguiman Elementary School said four to seven electric fans per classroom are not enough to give comfort to students.

Villegas said parents had been informed of the new class schedule.

Covered by the halfday in-person classes are schools in Dinalupihan, Hermosa, Orani, Samal, Abucay, Pilar, Orion, Limay, Mariveles, Bagac and Morong.

“Kailangang mag-ingat sa init. Ang mga bata ay kailangang maligo at uminom ng tubig para makaiwas sa sakit at sa mga sakit na dala ng init,” Villegas said.

In a memorandum issued last week, the Department of Education said school heads can implement modular distance learning in case of unfavorable weather and environment, including extremely high temperatures, which may affect the conduct of classroom learning and put the health and wellbeing of students at risk.

The heat index, which continues to rise, hit 47 degrees Celsius at around 11 a.m. in Guiuan, Eastern Samar on Friday.

Butuan City in Agusan del Norte logged a heat index of 46 degrees Celsius and 44 degrees in Catarman in Northern Samar, Legazpi City and Zamboanga City.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the highest heat index recorded so far was on April 16 in Guiuan at 49 degrees Celsius and 48 degrees in Butuan, Legazpi and San Jose in Occidental Mindoro.

PAGASA warned the public of a higher heat index in May amid the dry season. – Bella Cariaso