The Iloilo Provincial Health Office (PHO) is recommending daily baths as a way to avoid summer diseases such as scabies, mumps, chicken pox, various skin infections, among other ailments.

“Kon indi ka maligo naga-dry ang skin (If you don’t take a bath, your skin will be dry),” explained Iloilo PHO head, Dr. Patricia Grace Trabado. “Kon ma-expose na sa init may tsansa nga maga-dry pa gid and maging susceptible [sa infection] (When exposed to the heat, there is a chance the skin will dry out even more, making one susceptible to infection).”

She also suggested drinking water daily to avoid dehydration and, when outside, to use an umbrella or wear a cap.

Earlier, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration announced the dry season began on March 22. They also noted, warmer and drier conditions are forecasted due to the presence of El Niño, which AccuWeather describes as a climate pattern that raises sea temperatures in the Pacific Ocean and results in drought conditions due to reduced rainfall.

Meanwhile, Trabado also offered advice for those traveling with children for Holy Week suggesting parents keep watch their kids while swimming in order to avoid drowning incidents, along with ensuring children do not ingest seawater as it may be contaminated./WDJ