“We need free air conditioning”

The Philippines stopped in-person classes at all public schools on April 29-30 due to excessive heat and a nationwide strike by Jeepney drivers, the Ministry of Education announced on April 28, according to AFP.

Extreme heat has scorched Southeast Asia in recent weeks, causing thousands of schools to suspend in-person activities and authorities to issue health warnings.

Many schools in the Philippines do not have air conditioning, leaving students struggling with heat in crowded, poorly ventilated classrooms.

“According to the latest heat index forecast… and the announcement of a nationwide transportation strike, all public schools nationwide will implement remote classes on April 29 and 30/ 2024,” the Philippine Department of Education said in a notice posted on Facebook.

The Ministry of Education oversees more than 47,000 schools across the island nation.

According to local media, some jeepney drivers plan to stage a three-day nationwide strike starting April 29 to protest the government’s plan to phase out the vehicles. Smoke exhaust has long been used by many Filipinos to go to work and school.

The suspension of in-person classes comes after Manila recorded its highest temperature ever.

Data from the state’s weather forecasting agency showed that temperatures in the city reached a record high of 38.8 degrees Celsius on April 27, with the heat index reaching 45 degrees Celsius.

The heat index measures the actual perceived temperature, taking into account humidity.

The prolonged hot weather caused many people to flock to shopping centers and air-conditioned swimming pools to cool off.

Ms. Nancy Bautista, 65 years old, owner of a resort in Cavite province near Manila, said on April 28 that her facility was fully booked due to hot weather.

“This is the hottest I have ever experienced here,” she said.

“Many of our customers are groups of friends and families. They swam in the pool to cope with the heat.”

March, April and May are usually the hottest and driest months of the year, but this year’s weather conditions are exacerbated by the El Nino phenomenon.

“Not only Metro Manila, all parts of the country are expected to witness hotter temperatures until the second week of May,” said Glaiza Escullar from the Philippine weather forecasting agency.

“It is likely that areas will exceed temperatures measured today until the second week of May,” he added.

Camiling municipality in Tarlac province, north of Manila, recorded a temperature of 40.3 degrees Celsius on April 27, marking the highest temperature in the country this year.

As the heat becomes increasingly intense, 31-year-old Gerise Reyes plans to take her two-year-old daughter to a shopping center near Manila.

“It’s too hot at home. This is the hottest time I have ever experienced, especially between 10am and 4pm,” she said.

“We need free air conditioners to cut down on our electricity bills,” Reyes shared.

Global temperatures hit record highs last year and the United Nations weather and climate agency said on April 23 that Asia was warming at a particularly fast rate.

The Philippines ranks among the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.