The state weather bureau on Monday warned of rising heat indexes reaching “danger levels” across the country amid the El Nino phenomenon as the Department of Education allowed the use of alternative delivery modes (ADMs) for teaching in areas that declared suspension of face-to-face classes, mostly in the Visayas region.
The DepEd will also allow teachers to wear comfortable clothes instead of uniforms during in-person classes “subject to dress codes,” Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas told reporters in a Viber message.
“Yes that is the logical thing to do,” Bringas added, noting that public-school students are already allowed to wear comfortable clothes since there is no prescribed uniform for them.
About 246 public schools in Western Visayas shifted to alternative delivery modes on Monday following the suspension of in-person classes over the extreme heat.
It was the same for students in Libon, Albay, who were told not to wear school uniforms after an advisory issued by the Office of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council under Mayor Wilfredo V. Maronilla.
“Amid the increasing heat index (with Albay’s heat index reaching to 36 to 41℃, equivalent to extreme caution) it is advisable for the students and pupils to wear comfortable and presentable clothing (cotton shirts) going to school,” the mayor’s office said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration, in its two-day forecast, said Aparri in Cagayan Valley and Catarman in Northern Samar hit 43 degrees Celsius on the heat index on Monday.
The heat index also reached 42℃ at Pili, Camarines Sur and Zamboanga City.
Other areas forecast to experience 41℃ on the heat index were Dagupan City, Pangasinan; Puerto Princesa City and Aborlan in Palawan; Roxas City in Capiz; Iloilo City and Dumangas in Iloilo; La Granja, La Carlota in Negros Occidental; Tacloban City in Leyte; and Butuan City in Agusan del Norte.
Besides Iloilo City and Tantangan, South Cotabato, local government units in Bacolod City, Roxas, Capiz, Kabankalan in Negros Occidental, and E.B. Magalona in Negros Occidental also suspended face-to-face classes in private and public schools.
PAGASA said the heat index in the country may get worse this April, noting that the heat felt by the human body or the “apparent temperature” is not accurately measured using only the air temperature. This feeling is more correctly estimated with humidity.
Heat index is the measure of the temperature that a person feels, which is computed considering air temperature and humidity, said PAGASA.
The weather bureau said there are four classifications of heat index based on the possible effects of the temperature to people: Caution – from 27 to 32 degrees Celsius; Extreme Caution – from 33 °C to 41°C; Danger – from 42°C to 51°C; and Extreme Danger – from 52°C and beyond.
In the extreme danger level, heat stroke is imminent. For the danger level, heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely, and heat stroke is also probable with continued exposure, PAGASA added.
Among the causes of heat-related illnesses are prolonged exposure to hot temperatures, exhausting activities in warm weather, old or young age, weak immune system, high humidity, obesity, and chronic alcoholism.
The symptoms are sweating heavily, exhaustion or fatigue, dizziness or lightheadedness, blacking out or feeling dizzy when standing, weak but fast pulse, nausea, and vomiting.
The Department of Health (DOH) gave reminders on how to avoid heat stroke, especially in areas where there is a dangerous level of heat index.
DOH Undersecretary Eric Tayag said that while everyone is at risk during this time of extreme heat, the elderly, those who work directly under the sun, and even those who stay in houses where there is not much ventilation or insulation may be more vulnerable to heat stroke.
He advised people to keep drinking lots of water to prevent dehydration.
“It’s important that we monitor our condition. It’s especially necessary to drink enough water or even more because dehydration is our main enemy here. ,” the DOH spokesperson said in a television interview.
The DOH likewise advised the public to refrain from leaving the house at noontime and to do so only in the morning or in the afternoon. People should also wear light and loose clothing to keep the body cool.