The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration has already recorded a sudden rise in the heat index in Metro Manila and other areas of Luzon, which was at the “danger” level of 42 to 51 degrees Celsius and forecast to rise further.
Last week, the weather bureau said that the ‘amihan’, which had brought colder temperatures during February, would end by this month.
The heat index, as distinguished from the actual temperature in a given area, is also called the apparent temperature – or what humans perceive to be the temperature affecting their bodies. It measures the level of discomfort an average person experiences due to the combined effects of the actual temperature and humidity.
According to PAGASA, a heat index of 33C to 41C is classified as “extreme caution”, warning that continued activity could lead to heatstroke. A heat index of 42C to 51C falls under the “danger” level, with “heat cramps and heat exhaustion likely” and “heatstroke probable with continued exposure.”
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Monday urged the public to “stay informed about the heat index from PAGASA. He further advised the public to drink water regularly and “avoid outdoor exposure between 10am and 4pm.”
On Monday, classes in public and several private schools were suspended in 8 of Metro Manila’s 16 cities, which the Alliance of Concerned Teachers called a band aid solution to a systemic problem, as it called for funds for emergency cooling, properly equipped school clinics, and climate resilient classrooms.
Labor groups also called on government to compel workplaces to ensure the safety and well-being of employees, especially those working under the heat of the sun, such as construction workers, delivery riders, and even election staff.
As expected, the seasons are changing and hotter days are expected. We should be used to the challenges posed by the dry season by now, even with the increased tendency for the temperature to be at the extreme end on certain days. However, we also need to adapt, especially where school children and laborers are involved, because as the climate changes, these challenging conditions are expected to become normal, and we can’t rely on the famed Filipino trait of resilience to tide us through forever.
Schools and workplaces have to be made more climate resilient, so study and work can continue comfortably and safely, regardless of the weather. Programs, policies, and infrastructure have to be developed to keep up with the times, along with the bouts of extreme heat or rain that are expected to become more commonplace in a warming planet.*
