‘Heat stroke break’ revived

To protect its outdoor workers, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is once again implementing its “heat stroke break” policy starting March 15.

In the agency’s Sunday radio program, MMDA public health safety and environment head Loida Alzona said that traffic constables would be allowed to take a 30-minute daily break between 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. or from 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

These periods are considered the hottest parts of the day during the summer season.

“During these given periods, they will be allowed to leave their posts and go to a shaded area where they can still see the road they are monitoring,” Alzona explained, adding that the breaks would be done in shifts to ensure that there would always be a traffic constable on duty.

According to MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino, the heat stroke break policy will be in effect until May 31 to protect not only traffic enforcers but also street sweepers. They will also be given a “stroke allowance” and free purified drinking water.

In previous years, the MMDA also provided summer uniforms (black short pants and blue polo shirts) to traffic constables aside from their standard head gear.

The move is in preparation for the onset of summer and to prevent a repeat of the 2012 incident in which a traffic enforcer died due to heat stroke.