In Manila, soaring temperatures forced the closure of schools in nearly half the city on Monday, March 3rd, marking the start of the scorching dry season in the Philippines. The national weather service issued an advisory warning of "danger" levels for the heat index, a measure of air temperature and humidity, in Manila and two other regions.
The advisory cautioned residents to avoid prolonged sun exposure due to the high risk of heat cramps and exhaustion. A similar heatwave struck vast areas of the Philippines in April and May of the previous year, leading to the near-daily suspension of in-person classes, impacting millions of students.
Despite the relatively moderate temperature of 33 degrees Celsius expected on Monday, local governments in Manila and six other districts opted to close classrooms as a precautionary measure. This decision aimed to safeguard students from potential health risks associated with the intense heat.
13 Comments
Eugene Alta
Considering previous heatwaves, closing classrooms now is smart planning, not overreaction.
BuggaBoom
Thankful that safety and students' health are considered a priority. Good decision!
Noir Black
Such unnecessary panic by authorities. Kids are losing valuable school days for minor heat conditions.
Eugene Alta
More excuses to disrupt education. Let's stop being overly cautious about everything!
Loubianka
Heat advisories unnecessarily cause panic—people should just hydrate and carry on.
Muchacha
Philippine summers have always been hot, what’s the big deal now?
Bella Ciao
Preparing for the worst rather than reacting too late—commendable and responsible governance!
Michelangelo
Extreme heat poses real health risks; closing schools temporarily is a responsible move.
Comandante
Heatwaves can lead to serious medical issues; precautionary measures are justified.
Leonardo
Proud that our city places priority on health concerns related to increasing heatwaves.
Donatello
Students today lack discipline—heat advisories are just excuses to avoid responsibility!
ArtemK
This decision reinforces weakness in children. They need to learn to adapt.
Africa
I'm glad to see timely action and awareness about heat-related risks from authorities.