"Whenever possible, schedule physical activities for the early hours or after the heat subsides in the afternoon," Gov. Fredenil Castro said in a statement.
According to a PAGASA advisory, the heat index reached 42 degrees in Roxas City on March 13 which prompted the majority of the 17 local government units in Capiz to temporarily suspend face-to-face classes.
“There is a need for an early preparation and calculated response among residents to avoid the dangerous heat-related disorders with prolonged exposure and or physical activity in heat,” Roxas City mayor Ronnie Dadivas said thru Executive Order No. 11 which calls for a localized suspension of classes from pre-school to high school in both public and private schools in the city last March 14 and 15.
He added that modular or blended learning will be automatically implemented if the high heat index still surpasses the 40-degree level next week.
While the mayor passed the discretion to city-based colleges and universities, Capiz State University is implementing a blended learning delivery for daylight schedules of classes among its various campuses in the province.
“CapSU announces the suspension of face-to-face classes and the transition to alternative delivery of instruction like online and modular once the heat index reaches 37 degrees Celsius and above,” said a school advisory.
The other towns that also declared suspension of classes either on March 14 or March 15 were Dumarao, Dumalag, Dao, Mambusao, Sapian, Sigma, Panay, Panitan, President Roxas, Pontevedra, and Jamindan.
The PHO has recorded no incidents of heatstroke or heat exhaustion in the province as of March 13. (AGP/AAL/PIA Capiz/Cover photo from DOH)
