By JEN BAYLON
Bacolod City and three local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental suspended face-to-face classes yesterday due to high heat index.
The cities of Kabankalan and Himamaylan issued respective executive orders suspending in-person classes yesterday to protect students from the extreme heat in response to the forecast by the state weather bureau, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
Meanwhile, classes in E.B. Magalona town shifted to blended learning.
In capital Bacolod, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez ordered the suspension of classes from preschool to senior high school in both public and private schools in the city until Friday, March 7, due to extreme heat index.
“Schools suspending face-to-face classes may shift to modular distance learning, performance tasks, projects, or make-up classes to ensure learning continuity,” Benitez said in his order.
Private schools with air-conditioned rooms and tertiary-level institutions are left with the discretion to continue holding face-to-face classes, he added.
Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez also announced a suspension of classes in public and private schools in the city today.
Based on Pagasa’s heat index monitoring at the La Granja Station in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental was forecast to experience a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius yesterday.
Heat cramps and exhaustion are possible, while continuous intense activities could lead to heat stroke, Pagasa said in an advisory.
Heat index, sometimes referred to as the apparent temperature, is a measure of how hot it really feels when relative humidity is factored with the actual air temperature.
Irene Bel Ploteña, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO), emphasized the need for vigilance during this period of intense heat.
In a meeting with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Ploteña highlighted the importance of addressing the high heat index, which is expected to persist despite the La Niña phenomenon.
Although Pagasa has not officially declared the onset of summer, the heat index is anticipated to rise significantly in some parts of the country.
Compared to the intense heat triggered by the El Niño phenomenon last year, the current heat’s impact is considered minimal.
The PDRRMO continues to monitor the situation closely, working in coordination with local governments to mitigate any adverse effects of the rising temperatures.
DepEd takes action
Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) issued immediate measures to protect learners and teachers from the sweltering heat amid high temperatures.
To mitigate the effects of extreme heat, DepEd has instructed field offices and schools to take preventive actions, including adjusting class schedules, adopting alternative delivery modes if necessary, improving classroom ventilation, and ensuring access to hydration stations.
“We are deeply concerned about our learners’ and teachers’ safety. We are closely coordinating with our field offices to assess the situation in schools and determine the best course of action given the extreme heat,” DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said.
Schools are advised to conduct morning class sessions from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., allow asynchronous learning from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and hold afternoon sessions from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Additional rest and hydration breaks are encouraged, particularly in non-air-conditioned classrooms.
DepEd also underscores the importance of keeping classrooms well-ventilated.
Schools are advised to maximize natural ventilation by opening windows, removing obstructions that restrict airflow, and installing additional fans and cooling devices.
Other safety measures include limiting outdoor activities during peak heat hours, ensuring access to potable water, and providing first-aid kits with cooling packs and emergency thermometers.
Health personnel are tasked with monitoring cases of heat-related illnesses, such as heat cramps, exhaustion and stroke.
In terms of suspension, DepEd clarifies that there is no automatic suspension of classes due to extreme heat under its current policy.
However, local chief executives may declare class suspensions in affected areas.
In this scenario, schools will shift to alternative learning performance-based tasks or make-up classes to ensure that learning competencies are still met.
In case there is no automatic suspension of classes and in the absence of a declaration from the LGU, DepEd’s policy also allows school heads and Alternative Learning System coordinators to suspend in-person classes if excessive heat poses health risks to students and teachers.
Offices and schools are instructed to prepare and use self-learning modules and Dynamic Learning Program tools in case of a shift to the alternative delivery mode./JB, WDJ