Philippines suspends in-person public school classes for 2 days due to extreme heat. The Philippines Department of Education (DepEd) instructed all public schools in their country to suspend in-person classes Apr. 29 and 30 due to the extreme heat.
The Philippines Department of Education (DepEd) has announced a temporary suspension of in-person public school classes for April 29 and 30 due to extreme heat conditions, affecting the health and safety of students and staff. This decision, disclosed via a Facebook advisory on April 28, aligns with a distressing weather forecast by the state weather bureau PAGASA, which predicts a dangerous heat index ranging from 42°C to 51°C across 30 regions.
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Amid this scorching weather, DepEd has mandated a shift to asynchronous or distance-based learning methods for the affected dates. Both teaching and non-teaching personnel are exempted from reporting to work, ensuring the well-being of all school staff.
In-Person Classes Halted Due to Severe Heatwave and Anticipated Protests
The timing of the heatwave coincides with planned nationwide protests from April 29 to May 1, concerning the consolidation of jeepney franchises—a popular mode of public transportation in the Philippines. This overlap has further necessitated the suspension of classes to avoid complicating logistics and safety concerns during this period of civil unrest.
While the advisory specifically targets public schools, private institutions have not been required to follow suit but are given the option to adopt similar measures if deemed necessary.
PAGASA’s effect-based classification indicates that a heat index in the range of 42°C to 51°C can lead to severe health risks, including heat cramps, exhaustion, and heat stroke. In response to these conditions, the energy sector has also issued warnings about increased electricity demand as households turn to cooling solutions to mitigate the heat, which could strain the nation’s power supplies.
Authorities are urging the public to conserve energy as much as possible to prevent outages and alleviate the pressure on power infrastructure during this critical period.
As the country braces for potentially prolonged extreme temperatures, which could extend until the end of May, the government’s proactive measures reflect a commitment to public safety and underscore the escalating challenges posed by climate-related phenomena.
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