JAILHOUSE BLUES A Quezon City police officer arranges an electric fan for inmates at a jail in Kamuning district. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — Benhur Abalos, secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), has allowed police, fire and jail personnel to wear comfortable uniforms as the heat index across the country continues to rise at a “dangerous” level.
In an “urgent memorandum” issued on April 25, Abalos ordered the heads of the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to issue an advisory for all its personnel to wear light uniforms in the performance of their respective duties.
The measure, according to Abalos, would “help mitigate discomfort and reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses such as heat cramps, exhaustion and heat stroke.”
READ: Metro Manila, 31 other areas to have dangerous heat index on Friday
He pointed out that “the welfare of our uniformed personnel comes first especially as they perform their sworn duty.”
“The tri-bureau’s line of work already poses a lot of risks, now coupled with the hazards of extreme heat temperature. That is why we need to protect our uniformed personnel from the PNP, BFP and BJMP,” he said.
Dangerous levels
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) earlier warned that the heat index in the country could reach dangerous levels in various areas in the country.
On Friday, 39 areas in the country experienced dangerous levels of heat indexes with Dagupan City in Pangasinan recording the highest heat index at 48 degrees Celsius.
Pagasa has also advised the public to limit the time spent outdoors and drink plenty of water.
The Department of Health also issued an advisory to take precautionary measures against the dangers of heat-related illnesses.
Classes in various areas in the Philippines were also suspended during the past week due to the dangerous heat indexes in the country.