The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has officially declared the start of the dry season, advising Filipinos to prepare for a hot and humid summer.
Citing the shift of the cold and dry air of the northeast monsoon and the easterlies or warm air coming from the Pacific Ocean, PAGASA administrator Vicente Malano said such conditions signified the termination of the northeast monsoon and the start of the dry season and warmer conditions.
“The public is advised to take precautionary measures to minimize heat stress and optimize the daily use of water for personal and domestic consumption,” Malano added.
Filipinos, as always, are normally prepared for the summer heat and all the challenges and inconveniences that come with it, but the as this year’s summer season officially begins after a two-year hiatus, we may have to be extra aware and take additional precautions if we are going to enjoy the long-awaited summer months safely.
The Philippine National Police has said they are ready to ensure a safe summer vacation and will focus on the strict enforcement of health protocols and anti-crime measures, as they are anticipating large crowds this year with tourism sites having reopened.
Aside from the vacation season, there is also the Holy Week, the rest of the campaign period that we will have to prepare for if we are going to stay safe, both from heat stress and COVID-19 infections, as the economics of summer hopefully jumpstarts the eventual reopening of the economy and our recovery from the pandemic.
It will be up to commercial establishments, tourist destinations, places of worship, campaign managers and each and every one of us, to ensure that we get through this summer safely by continuing to comply with minimum public health standards while being aware of the dangers of the rising temperatures and adjusting to a society that is relearning new norms as we all do our best to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and take back our lives that have been put on hold over the past two years.*
