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Heat caused103 areas under state of calamity
By J.Lo
“As of this morning, based on data of OCD ,Office of Civil Defense, 103 cities and municipalities have declared state of calamity,” Task Force El Niño spokesman and Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Joey Villarama said at public briefing aired over state-run People’s Television total of 103 cities and towns have been placed under state of calamity because of El Niño, while number of persons affected by weather phenomenon has reached 2.1 million.
Villarama said among affected areas are provinces of Antique, Sultan Kudarat, Basilan, Maguindanao del Sur and Occidental Mindoro, visited by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr..
“Actually, the President mentioned almost entire Philippines is affected…but again, in varying degrees, so government is focused on providing assistance, depending on needs of each province,” he added.
State of calamity declaration will allow local government to use its funds to mitigate impact of El Niño.
Citing data from social welfare department, Villarama said 2,116,420 people, including farmers, fisherfolk and their dependents, have been affected by El Niño, expected to persist until May or June.
Amount of damage caused by El Niño to agriculture sector has risen to P3.94 billion, equivalent to 66,000 hectares.
However, 78 percent of affected farmlands may still recover, Villarama said.
“By end of May, we hope impact of El Niño will dissipate or become less but our appeal to conserve our resources like power and water remains,” he added.
During his visit to San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, Marcos gave assurance that government would continue providing assistance to communities and sectors hit by El Niño.
He said country’s rice supply remains sufficient despite drought and dry spell.
Heat index in Aparri, Cagayan climbed to sweltering 48 degrees Celsius, marking hottest heat index logged so far this year.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said highest heat index was recorded on April 23 in municipality of Aparri. PAGASA also monitored heat index of 47 degrees in Dagupan City.
At least 30 areas in the country could experience dangerous heat levels today, as temperatures are expected to range between 42 to 45 degrees.
PAGASA warned dangerous and extreme danger heat indexes are expected in April and May. Bureau also warned of heat cramps and heat exhaustion, with heat stroke probable in continued exposure.
Total of 6,695 out of 47,678 public schools nationwide suspended onsite classes due to extreme heat, latest figures from Department of Education (DepEd) showed.
Based on data released by DepEd, all regions in the country have recorded class suspensions, with schools opting to shift to alternative delivery mode (ADM) of learning such as through online classes and use of modules.
Heat index in several parts of the country reached “danger” level ranging from 42 to 46 degrees Celsius.
Central Luzon has highest number of schools suspending onsite classes at 1,731, followed by Western Visayas with 1,091 schools, Ilocos region (680), Central Visayas (470), Bicol (450) and Mimaropa (426).
Total of 415 public schools in Metro Manila have suspended their onsite classes and switched to ADM.
Suspension of onsite classes was also recorded in public schools in Calabarzon (395), Soccsksargen (335), Cordillera Administrative Region (229), Zamboanga peninsula (164), Eastern Visayas (117), Cagayan Valley (104), Davao region (84), Northern Mindanao (3) and Caraga (1).
“Number of schools implementing ADM has decreased compared to previous data,” DepEd said.
More than 7,000 public schools suspended their onsite classes and switched to ADM last April 12 also due to extreme heat.
Face-to-face classes in all levels of both public and private schools have been suspended anew in the city of Manila until April 26, the local government announced after heat index in the city was forecast to reach danger level at an estimated 44 degrees Celsius.
Navotas, Las Piñas, Pasay and Parañaque have also suspended face-to-face classes in all levels in both public and private schools until Friday due to extreme heat.
City governments have advised school management to “shift to asynchronous classes” in the next two days.
Meanwhile, DepEd has denied local radio report saying two teachers died of heatstroke while conducting classes.
In statement DepEd slammed as “highly inaccurate and misleading” so-called breaking news report of XFM Radyo Patrol Iloilo saying two teachers in Iloilo recently died of heatstroke while conducting classes.
“According to Schools Division Office concerned, no teacher was reported to have died due to heatstroke,” DepEd said.
DepEd said official records instead showed that teacher in Sta. Barbara town passed away in February due to “hypertensive cardiovascular disease,” while another teacher died sometime March due to aneurysm.
“In both instances, teachers were reportedly at home… unfortunate that certain news outlets resort to sensationalizing death of our teachers at expense of true and factual reporting,” DepEd said. “Most importantly, DepEd extends its heartfelt condolences to bereaved families.”
Teachers’ Dignity Coalition and Alliance of Concerned Teachers have been calling on DepEd for immediate reversion to old academic calendar starting this coming school year 2024-2025, following frequent suspension of onsite classes due to extreme summer heat aggravated by El Niño.
Meanwhile, Metro Pacific Water president and CEO Rogelio Singson said government should prioritize establishment of water impounding systems instead of flood control measures to ensure country’s water security.
Singson said government needs to converge its flood control projects and irrigation programs to have synchronized program in managing country’s water resources.
Singson added funds of Department of Public Works and Highways and National Irrigation Administration must be integrated to lead to better water control program.
Impounding rainwater, Singson pointed out, would benefit country in multiple ways: there would be available irrigation for farmers during dry season, available bulk water supply for treatment and it would reduce flooding.
“Priority should be water impounding and not flood control…once you impound water at the top it would reduce water at downstream, resulting in fewer flooding, let’s not burn our budget in dredging because nothing will happen…it will just use up our budget,” he said during Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum.
Singson recalled he banned dredging during his stint as DPWH secretary since it will not lead to any improvements against flooding.
“If budget is instead used for water impounding in several locations around river systems, then definitely, we will control flooding,” he said.
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