2 more Albay towns suspend in-person classes due to heat

Albay. INQUIRER FILES

LEGAZPI CITY — The local governments of Polangui and Guinobatan, both in Albay province, suspended in-person classes in all levels, private and public, on Tuesday, April 2, as temperatures surged to 41 degrees Celsius.

In a Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (MDRRMC) Advisory No. 01, series of 2024 released Monday, April 1, Guinobatan Mayor and MDRRMC chairman Paul Garcia advised the schools to implement modular contingency plans as part of their preparedness action to safeguard the health of the students and teachers amid the extreme heat.

Garcia also advised the public to stay indoors as much as possible and work on activities in a well-ventilated area during early mornings and late afternoons.

READ: Albay town suspends in-person classes due to hot weather

Meanwhile, Polangui Mayor Raymond Adrian Salceda directed all schools, private and public, to implement a half-day of in-person classes and asynchronous classes on Tuesday afternoon.

The implementation of the announcement is in compliance with Memorandum Circular No. 10-A, series of 2022 and Department of Education’s (DepEd) Order No. 037, series of 2022, which authorize schools to decide for the welfare of the students in line with local and national announcements.

Salceda encouraged the public and school administrators to practice safety measures during face-to-face or in-person classes, such as providing access to drinking water at schools, implementing heat stroke or high blood pressure protocols, and ensuring the availability of school nurses.

Earlier in Libon town, Mayor Wilfredo Maronilla was reported to have suspended in-person classes on Tuesday, instructing administrators to adapt to modular and online learning set up.

Last month, DepEd Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas reiterated that school heads are allowed to decide whether to conduct face-to-face classes or suspend, given that hot weather will persist until May due to the impact of El Niño.

“Extreme” level heat indexes were also recorded in Daet, Camarines Norte (39ºC); Virac, Catanduanes (41ºC); Masbate City, Masbate (39ºC); and Juban, Sorsogon (38ºC).

Pagasa also recorded “danger” level heat index in Pili town in Camarines Sur (44ºC).