Solon: PAGASA can set rules on canceling school, work due to heat

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) should be the one deciding whether or not classes or working days would be suspended due to extreme heat, just like with typhoons, Valenzuela Representative Eric Martinez said Tuesday.

Martinez urged the state weather bureau to draft a protocol on heat indexes given the recent local government cancellations of school and working days due to the extreme heat.

“If there is a Doppler radar for [predicting] the rain, then there should be a tool for measuring heat index too," reasoned Martinez, the vice chairperson of the House Public Information Committee. "Recently mayors were the ones issuing the advisory on canceled classes. Such a decision should not lie with the LGUs.”

“During summer, there should be a standard protocol like Heat Index 1, Heat Index 2, or Heat Index 3. There should be proper guidelines [for each determination]. Mayors cannot make decisions on the cancellation of classes because when you ask them if there should be a cancellation, they will just go outside the city hall and check. Such decisions should be based on science, and only PAGASA can do that," he added.

Martinez suggested that a Heat Index 1 would mean advising people to stay indoors from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., while a Heat Index 2 would prohibit any outside activity, and a Heat Index 3 would prompt the cancellation of classes.

“It will be better for all of us if such decisions are science-based. And if they need the equipment for this, we will pursue this by the time the 2025 national budget deliberations are held in Congress,” said the representative.

“We have a protocol when it rains. There are Typhoon Signals 1, 2, and so forth. Why don’t we have the same protocol for the summer season?” he added.

Martinez said such a system did not require a law, but a proactive action from the weather bureau.

“This is a policy direction that they should have because this [heat] has been a daily occurrence,” Martinez added.

Heat breaks

House Assistant Minority Leader Arlene Brosas, for her part, said workers should have mandatory “heat breaks” or special or unscheduled breaks from work during times of severe heat.

"Both the government and employers share responsibility for ensuring the health and safety of workers. As temperatures soar across various regions in the country, reaching potentially dangerous levels, workers are at heightened risk of heat-related illnesses and fatalities," Brosas said in her statement.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) issued Labor Advisory 08, series of 2023 providing guidelines for addressing extreme heat situations.

Likewise, Brosas stressed the urgent need for broader measures covering all workers, regardless of employment status.

"Labor Advisory 08-23 fails to protect outdoor workers and informal workers, including those in agriculture, docks, construction, delivery riders, and other platform workers. These workers face a higher risk of heat stress and potentially heat strokes," Brosas pointed out.

"We urge the Marcos Jr. administration to release an executive order mandating heat breaks, along with other necessary safety measures, to protect workers across all sectors," she added. — DVM, GMA Integrated News