Students try to shield themselves from the heat of the noonday sun at President Corazon Aquino High School in the Baseco community in Tondo, Manila, on April 2, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- Senator Nancy Binay has called on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Education (DeEd) to revisit its school building designs in consideration of students suffering inside their classrooms amid the very hot weather. 

"Siguro baka dapat si DPWH and DepEd should start reviewing designs ng schools, kung talagang maganda ang ikot ng hangin, taasan ang ceiling o design ng bintana hanapan ng bago," Binay told journalists in an interview on Wednesday. 

(I think the DPWH and DEPED should atadt reviewing school designs towards those with better ventilation, higher ceiling and new window design.) 

For Binay, the idea of schools reverting to a "blended learning" scheme must only be considered in provinces that register a very high weather temperature. 

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Senator Cynthia Villar is also not keen on schools implementing a blended learning scheme for students. 

Learners are more focused and disciplined when studying inside the school campus, Villar said. 

"Minsan mahirap din yung blended learning kasi nag-deteriorate yung mga students because of ... Kasi pag napasok ka sa school, mas disciplined ka eh. Pero pag sa bahay who will supervise na mag-aaral talaga? 'Yung mga bata, parang hirap ako dun sa blended learning," Villar, in a separate interview, pointed out. 

(Students deteriorate in blended learning. In schools they are more disciplined unlike when they are inside the house. Who will discipline the children?) 

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, meanwhile, appealed to the Department of Labor and Employment to consider a "work break" policy while the nation experiences extreme heat. 

Pimentel said other countries like the United Arab Emirates (UAE) observe this in consideration to their workers. 

Better classroom ventilation sought as heat forces class suspensions 

“The Department of Labor and Employment should work with the private sector in implementing a similar policy. As I said last year, there should be a temporary work break or compulsory rest periods when the heat index reaches a danger level,” Pimentel said.

The work break must be observed each time that heat index reaches 40 degrees and above, the senator said. 

“I am very much concerned about the safety of our workers, especially those working outside directly exposed to the intense heat of the sun, including construction workers among others,” Pimentel said. 

“Kinakailangan nating bigyan sila ng sapat na proteksyon upang maiwasan ang anumang aksidente dulot ng matinding init ng panahon, tiyakin na hindi sila nakabilad sa araw,” he added. 

(We need to give them ample protection tp avoid accidents amid the very hot weather condition in our country.) 

Binay supports Pimentel's recommendation. 

Health chief says school adjustments due to hot weather should be 'case-to-case' basis  

"I support call ni Sen Koko kapag ang trabaho sa labas ng opisina for ex traffic enforcers dapat meron silang break to cool off. Para di sila madehydrate. Sobrang tindi ng init," Binay said. 

(I support Sen Koko (Pimentel) for those working outside, like traffic enforcers. They should have a break so they could cool off and will not be dehydrated.) 

Villar, on the other hand, is recommending an earlier duty or work time adjustment for workers, especially those who are exposed to the sun. 

"Parang in between eh, yung lunchtime ang sobrang init pero pag pumupunta na ng mga 3 o clock, baka dalawang time kung saan mo gusto pumasok, 'yung early morning or late afternoon di ba," Villar said. 

(Maybe two options. You can come to work either early in the morning or late afternoon.)

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