The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration warned that heat indices in the country will soon hit levels of “extreme danger” in the coming days and next month, as temperatures continue to rise at the height of the summer season, exacerbated by the lingering effects of the El Niño weather phenomenon.
Ana Liza Solis, officer in charge of Pagasa’s Climatology and Agrometeorology Division, said that the heat index in some parts of the country is projected to reach up to 52 degrees Celsius when summer reaches its peak next month.
“With this heat level, heatstroke is imminent or probable [for] people who are directly exposed to sunlight, which is why we need to take precautions,” she added.
According to Solis, up to 17 provinces have already posted high heat indices, while some areas have already hit the maximum daytime temperatures projected by Pagasa for this year. “[We] predicted before the onset of the dry season that this could be one of the warmest dry season months. This is what we are actually experiencing now, which is also caused by El Niño,” she added.
With classes already having been called off, moved online, or shortened because of the heat, it seems difficult to imagine what more can be done if the temperatures continue to rise further. National government, local governments, and the private sector, including schools, businesses, and industries, that have already deployed measures to protect their charges against the heat simply cannot let their guard down yet, and will have to try even harder as temperatures are expected to rise further as summer peaks in the coming weeks.
As students, workers, and household members will all need to be protected from the dangers that come with the heat that is expected to further rise, it will require a massive and collective effort from everyone, from personal efforts all the way to the top echelons of power and responsibility.
It is not smart to argue with or ignore scientists when they say that temperatures will be dangerous. Listening to their advice on how to deal with the heat safely and prevent injuries or untoward incidents will go a long way during these extra challenging times.*
