As the tumultuous dry season began in the tropical Southeast Asian nation, local officials said that schools were closed in about half of the Philippine capital on Monday due to the high temperatures.
The heat index, which measures air temperature and relative humidity, was predicted to hit “danger” levels in Manila and two other parts of the nation, according to a national weather service advisory.
“Heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely” at that level, the advisory said, warning residents in affected areas to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun.
Millions of students were impacted by the nearly daily suspensions of in-person classes caused by a heat wave that hit major parts of the Philippines in April and May of last year.
On April 27 of last year, Manila’s temperature reached a record 38.8 degrees Celsius (101.8 degrees Fahrenheit).
Local governments in Manila and six other districts ordered classrooms closed as a precaution, even though Monday’s temperatures were only predicted to reach 33 degrees Celsius.
Based on data from the education department, there are around 2.8 million students in the capital region.
In Manila’s Malabon district, education department official Edgar Bonifacio said the suspensions affected more than 68,000 students across 42 schools.
“We were surprised by the heat index advisory,” Bonifacio told AFP, adding: “We cannot feel the heat yet outside.”
However, due to protocols adopted during last year’s heat wave, the district’s school superintendent recommended suspending in-person classes.
“Our main concern is we’re near the end of the school year (in mid-April),” Bonifacio said. “This would mean a reduction of the number of school days available.”
In Valenzuela district, school official Annie Bernardo told AFP its 69 schools had been instructed to shift to “alternative” learning models, including online classes.
In 2024, average global temperatures reached all-time highs and even momentarily crossed the crucial 1.5 degree Celsius warming threshold.
About 242 million children in 85 countries, including the Philippines, had their schooling interrupted by extreme weather last year, with heat waves having the largest effect, according to a January report from UNICEF, the UN agency for children.
The earth has warmed and weather patterns have shifted as a result of human activity, including decades of unchecked fossil fuel use.
As a result, there have been wetter and drier periods, which have increased heat and storm intensity and increased population susceptibility to disasters.
