With the heat index reaching 45°C, authorities have suspended face-to-face classes in 25 towns and three cities in Pangasinan to protect students from heat-related illnesses.

Dagupan City has been recording one of the highest heat indexes in the country for nearly two weeks, consistently reaching between 40°C and 45°C, according to PAGASA-Dagupan.

“’Yan talaga ang nasusukat namin dito, ganyan talaga kataas,” Engr. Jose Estrada Jr., Chief Meteorologist of PAGASA-Dagupan City, said.

The Pangasinan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) continues to monitor the situation closely.

“Hourly ang update ng DOST-PAGASA Dagupan City sa atin. So, nache-check natin kung ano ang highest heat index per day,” Pia Flores, Emergency Operation Center Supervisor of PDRRMO-Pangasinan, said.

Even with proper ventilation, some schools are struggling with heat management.

At West Central Elementary School 1, adding more electric fans is not an option due to electrical load limits.

“Hindi na talaga kakayanin kasi apat lang ang puwede. Tapos kung magsabay-sabay pa ‘yan, hindi na kakayanin ng electric natin,” Dr. Renato Santillan, Principal of West Central Elementary School 1, said.

DepEd Region 1 assured students remain monitored under the modular and blended learning setup until face-to-face classes can safely resume.