Several onsite classes suspended due to heat

MANILA, Philippines — Several cities and municipalities nationwide yesterday canceled on-site classes either in all levels or only from pre-school to senior high school due to unbearable classroom conditions brought about by extreme heat, according to the Department of Education (DepEd).

In Luzon, Dagupan City suspended all on-site classes in public schools from April 1 to 4.

The DepEd Western Visayas said 246 public schools in the region have shifted to alternative learning mode due to harsh conditions in classrooms, according to a report by the Philippine News Agency.

The education department also reported that on-site classes were suspended in Pagadian City Pilot School and Buenavista Integrated School, both in the Zamboanga peninsula.

In Central Mindanao, the municipalities of Banga and Tantangan suspended on-site classes.

In Negros Occidental, at least 10 cities and municipalities have suspended on-site classes at all levels in private and public schools.

The cities of Iloilo, Bacolod and Roxas in Capiz and the municipalities of Tantangan in South Cotabato and Dumangas in Iloilo province have also suspended on-site classes either at all levels or only in pre-school to senior high school.

DepEd Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas said only the “in-person class modality is suspended” and that schools may still hold classes under the alternative delivery mode.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has warned that the heat index in some areas in the country may reach “danger levels,” under which conditions heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely to occur, with heat stroke probable with continued exposure.

Various groups earlier called for the return to the old school calendar of June to March, citing the heat experienced by students in March and April.

Even lawmakers sought to intervene by filing proposals to shift to the old calendar, stressing that the current school calendar running from August to June is inappropriate in the country.

The DepEd is currently implementing measures to return to the old school calendar, but the transition would only fully take hold four school years from now.

12 Negros Occidental LGUs

Twelve local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental have suspended classes starting yesterday until today due to high heat index forecast, according to Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head Irene Bel Ploteña.

The LGUs that suspended classes for two days are highly urbanized Bacolod City, municipalities of E.B. Magalona, Hinobaan, Isabela, Binalbagan, Candoni, Cauayan, cities of Bago, Silay, Talisay, Kabankalan and Himamaylan.

Ploteña said the towns of Ilog and Moises Padilla are leaving it “to the discretion of school heads to suspend classes.”

The forecast heat index in Negros Occidental is 41 degrees Celsius yesterday and 42 degrees Celsius today.

While the El Niño phenomenon will still be felt until August this year, Ploteña disclosed that La Niña is expected to be in effect with the onset of the southwest monsoon in June.

She advised everyone to stay indoors and hydrated, especially from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Benitez encouraged pre-school, elementary, secondary and senior high school levels to adopt alternative delivery modes for instructional methods to benefit their students.

Benitez, however, said that private schools with air-conditioned rooms and tertiary-level institutions may exercise their discretion to continue with face-to-face classes.

Those who have shifted to modular or online distance learning are Bago City, Silay City, E.B. Magalona, Talisay City, Binalbagan and Himamaylan City.

Meanwhile, Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez said his decision not to suspend face-to-face classes for all levels in both public and private schools “comes after careful consideration of geographical layout, autonomy of school heads and general advisory on our local conditions.”

“Our geographical terrain ranges from mountains to coastlines, and our schools experience weather conditions differently,” Benitez said.

He added that he trusts school heads “to make informed decisions about the best mode of learning for their students, whether it is in-person or through alternative delivery.”

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas announced the cancellation of onsite classes yesterday and today over the forecast heat index of 41 degrees Celsius “unless otherwise extended or lifted earlier.”

Treñas enjoined school heads to  implement appropriate measures to ensure the health and safety of students and staff within school premises, which includes adoption of alternative learning delivery modes in view of face-to-face classes.

He said that they might extend the suspension of face-to-face classes from pre-school to senior high school both in public and private schools, depending on the heat index forecast.

Roxas City Mayor Ronnie Dadivas announced the suspension of classes from pre-school to senior high school yesterday.

As for college students, Dadivas said he is leaving it up to the discretion of the school administration whether to suspend classes or not.

Ill-equipped

Across Metro Manila, over 8,000 public school teachers have reported that many classrooms are ill-equipped to help teachers and students function properly during on-site classes amid the harsh heat being experienced all over the country, prompting calls for the DepEd to improve facilities and classroom conditions.

In a survey of 8,605 teachers across all school divisions in the National Capital Region by the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) NCR Union, about 88 percent of teachers indicated that students and teachers are having difficulties focusing on tasks due to the extreme heat.

The survey was conducted through Google Forms from March 6 to 10.

Meanwhile, about 3,911 teachers reported that the heat has aggravated some of their students’ pre-existing health conditions.

Based on the survey, students have pre-existing conditions such as allergies, heart disease, asthma and other respiratory illnesses, migraine, hypertension, diabetes and astigmatism.

Out of the 8,605 responses, over 6,600 indicated that the heat is unbearable, while the rest said the heat was mild.

Nearly half of the number of teachers indicated that their classrooms only have two electric fans, “highlighting inadequate ventilation measures to combat rising temperatures.”

“Many teachers and students are experiencing dizziness because of extreme heat. We don’t want a repeat of last year’s situation where so many students were rushed to school clinics because of fainting spells or nosebleeds,” ACT NCR Union president Ruby Bernardo said.

“The inadequacy of health facilities and personnel in schools is also a cause for concern because we have yet to see improvements in the ventilation inside classrooms and in the fact that kids are crammed because of large class sizes,” Bernardo added.

Respondents of the survey suggested that the DepEd allow teachers and students to wear light and comfortable clothing in lieu of uniforms, as well as provide free water throughout the shift to help teachers and students cope with the heat.

They also suggested implementing asynchronous classes or other area-specific and flexible learning modalities to minimize exposure to extreme heat.

“We reiterate, however, that while these suggestions can be useful as a quick and temporary response due to current conditions, it should not be abused by the agency and the government as the perennial solution,” Bernardo said.

“We need to build adequate classrooms, hire more teachers and education support personnel and establish a climate crisis resilient environment to improve our learning conditions. This requires adequate budget allocated to education which we have long demanded from the government,” she added.

‘Danger’ heat index

Catarman, Northern Samar on Sunday sizzled after it recorded a heat index of 45 degrees Celsius, according to PAGASA.

The state weather bureau said that aside from Catarman, other areas with “danger” heat index were Aparri, Cagayan and Pili, Camarines Sur, at 44 degrees Celsius; Zamboanga City (43 degrees Celsius) and Daet, Camarines Norte (42 degrees Celsius).

Based on PAGASA’s forecast, at least eight areas are expected to experience “danger” heat index today: Aparri, Cagayan, with a possible heat index of 44 degrees Celsius; Puerto Princesa City and Aborlan, Palawan; Roxas City; Iloilo City and Dumangas, Iloilo; La Carlota, Negros Occidental; and Catarman, all with a possible heat index of 42 degrees Celsius.

PAGASA said that the highest heat index recorded during the observance of the Holy Week was in Dagupan City, Pangasinan on March 27 and Aparri, Cagayan on March 29, both at 47 degrees Celsius.

The state weather bureau added that “danger” heat index ranged between 42 and 51 degrees Celsius.

At least one tropical cyclone is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility this month, according to PAGASA weather specialist Obet Badrina.

“Based on the yearly average tropical cyclone, the lowest number of typhoons usually happen during the months of March and April, so we expect one typhoon this month,” Badrina said.

He added that at present, the easterlies and ridge of the high pressure area are currently affecting the country.

Meanwhile, as of 6 a.m. yesterday, the water level in Angat Dam had dropped to 198.80 meters or 0.23 meters less compared with its previous level of 199.03 meters.

It was 13.20 meters below its normal high water level of 212 meters, but is still 18.8 meters above the minimum operating level of 180 meters. — Gilbert Bayoran, Jennifer Rendon, Rhodina Villanueva, Bella Cariaso, — The Freeman