MANILA, Philippines — Temperatures reached a scorching 38.2 degrees Celsius in Metro Manila on Thursday, again marking the hottest day so far this year, according to state weather forecasters.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said this is the second time that temperatures reached this high this year in a week. It reached 38.2 degrees on April 18 and again on April 25.
At least 39 areas in the country may experience dangerous heat levels this weekend.
The heat index may reach between 42 to 47 degrees Celsius in these areas, which may likely cause heat cramps and heat exhaustion, with heat stroke probable in continued exposure.
Heat index is the human comfort index that gives the temperature on what humans feel as the temperature from surroundings affects the body.
The heat index in Tuguegarao is expected to reach 47 degrees for the fifth day in a row today.
PAGASA warned that the sweltering heat will continue to affect the country until May amid the El Niño phenomenon and the dry season.
The easterlies are still prevalent and may bring isolated rains over Metro Manila and the rest of the country.
Water in dams still enough
There is no cause for worry yet on the decreasing water level of Angat dam but the public should continue to observe water conservation measures, PAGASA hydrologist Richard Orendain said yesterday.
Orendain said the reservoir water level dropped to 189.62-meters yesterday morning, still over two meters above the normal water elevation of the dam at 186.93-meters. He noted that water levels could reach the 180-meter mark by the end of May based on current trends.
Still, Orendain said that this is still sufficient to supply water needs as it is well above the 150-meter critical mark.
“Based on our analysis, by end of May it could reach 180 meters. This is our low level. But even if there’s low water level, there’s still much left. The critical is 150 meters,” he said.
The PAGASA official said that the recovery period for Angat dam is in July, which means that the public should continue to conserve water.
However, Orendain said they are also monitoring other dams in the country that are also seeing a marked decrease in water levels.
He noted that the Pantabangan dam in Central Luzon is already nearing critical level. It was at 173.42 meters, way below the rule curve elevation of 204.50 meters.
‘Teachers need not be present during class suspension’
Teachers and school personnel shall not be required to report for work during suspension of onsite classes, the Department of Education-National Capital Region (DepEd-NCR) stressed yesterday.
“Furthermore, during the suspension of in-person classes, teaching school personnel, including Alternative Learning System teachers, and non-teaching school personnel shall not be required to report to work, except those who are mandated to render security, safety, finance, engineering, sanitation, health and disaster response duties,” the DepEd-NCR’s Regional Memorandum No. 408, series of 2024 read. — Bella Cariaso, Roel Pareño, Elizabeth Marcelo