MANILA, Philippines — Students need not be forced to come to school as the country’s temperature further sizzles, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said on Thursday.
Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate panel on basic education, said it came to his knowledge that the heat index in some areas of the Philippines often breaches the “danger” threshold.
“Our teachers have the flexibility to conduct blended learning,” he reminded schools in Filipino.
“That’s why my appeal to teachers is to not force students to come to school. I’ve seen that some areas in the country, such as Cagayan, record a 44 to 45ºC heat index.∏
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Heat index refers to the apparent heat that humans perceive.
A heat index ranging from 42ºC to 51ºC is in the “danger” category as it can cause heat cramps and heat exhaustion, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.
To further explain his stance in layman’s term, Gatchalian compared the 44ºC to 45ºC heat index to a 37ºC body temperature.
“Someone with fever has a temperature of 37ºC. What a child feels is 44ºC to 45ºC. So what the child feels is beyond a fever. So let’s not force them because they might get dehydrated. We’ve read many instances where a child collapsed due to extreme heat,” he said.
On March 22, Pagasa announced the onset of the hot and dry season in the country.
It also warned this could be “one of the warmest” dry seasons ever recorded in the Philippines due to the ongoing effects of El Niño.