SC allows flexible work scheme for courts amid heat

MANILA, Philippines —  Trial court judges and personnel are allowed to adopt a flexible working arrangement amid “dangerous heat indices” nationwide, according to the Supreme Court (SC).

Starting April 5 to May 31, working hours and court operations are from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., based on a circular issued by Court Administrator Raul Villanueva with authority from Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo.

Saturday duty in trial courts will be from 7:30 a.m. to 12 noon.

This can also apply on Sundays, official holidays and special days when exceptional circumstances warrant, the circular noted.

This is to “prevent health complications that may be caused by the extreme heat and weather conditions.”

Meanwhile, field personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority have also been given a “heat stroke break” every 30 minutes, starting March 15 to May 31, according to acting MMDA Chairman Romando Artes.

During this break, traffic enforcers and street sweepers may leave their posts to take shelter and drink water to prevent heat stroke.

There could be an additional 15-minute break once Manila’s heat index reaches 40 degrees Celsius and above.

The heat index measures the temperature that a person feels, which is computed considering air temperature and humidity, according to the state weather bureau.

Due to the high temperatures and high heat index experienced nationwide, local government units and school heads have been given the authority to suspend classes.

Online classes

In Bulacan, three days of online classes have been implemented in private and public schools amid the rising heat index.

The rising temperature is expected to hit 39 to 41 degrees Celsius.

Online classes will run from April 4 to 6, based on the memorandum issued by Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando on Wednesday.

Fernando will issue another directive on what learning modality will be implemented after April 6.

Meanwhile, more schools have suspended onsite classes and the number of students affected by suspensions has grown to over 2.4 million, the Department of Education (DepEd) said yesterday.

Schools that suspended onsite classes ballooned to 4,769 compared to Wednesday’s 3,954.

Western Visayas remains the region with the highest number of schools affected, with 1,015 or about 547,800 students, based on DepEd data.

In Metro Manila, 391,230 students from 168 schools are affected.

Central Luzon has the most number of affected learners, with 502,838 students from 811 schools.

?In Ilocos, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Zamboanga peninsula, over one million students in 1,417 schools are affected.

Bicol, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Soccsksargen have a combined total of 1,358 schools suspending onsite classes. The number of affected students has yet to be determined.

DepEd yesterday reminded school heads and local DepEd officials of existing guidelines on class suspensions, stressing that school heads have been given the authority to shift to alternative delivery modes “in cases of extreme heat and other calamities that may compromise the health and safety of learners, teachers and non-teaching personnel.”

The agency has yet to comment on calls from teachers’ groups to revert to the June-March academic calendar, citing the heat experienced by students in March and April.

Lawmakers have also sought to intervene by filing proposals, noting that the current school calendar running from August to June is inappropriate in the country.

School calendar

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian echoed calls for DepEd to revert to the old school calendar to give students a break from the scorching heat.

DepEd is gradually reverting to the old school calendar with an April to May break, he said during yesterday’s Kapihan sa Senado forum.

In the gradual return to the pre-pandemic calendar, the current school year will end on May 31 and restart on July 29. In 2025, it will end on May 16.

“By 2025, we can go back to the old calendar,” said Gatchalian, chair of the Senate basic education committee.

A Pulse Asia survey from June 19 to 23 last year, which the senator commissioned, showed that 80 percent of Filipino respondents want to return to the April-May school summer break.

Gatchalian recommended that DepEd shorten the transition to the old school calendar due to the pressing need for it amid climate change.

Extreme heat

Dangerous levels of heat indices may be experienced in eight areas nationwide, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

Temperatures between 42 to 43 degrees Celsius may be recorded, which could pose dangerous effects on people.

?This level may be experienced in Dagupan City, Sangley Point in Cavite, Aborlan in Palawan and Pili in Camarines Sur.?

Dumangas in Iloilo, Catarman in Northern Samar and Zamboanga City might also experience extreme heat.

?State weather forecasters warn of heat cramps, heat exhaustion and probable heat stroke with continued exposure.

?Meanwhile, a trough of a low-pressure area is currently affecting Mindanao.

?It may bring scattered rain over parts of the Davao region and Soccsksargen.

?Isolated rains may be seen over Metro Manila and the rest of the country due to easterlies and localized thunderstorms. — Ramon Lazaro, Romina Cabrera, Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Ghio Ong, Neil Jayson Servallos