BACOLOD City – Learners in Negros Occidental may wear civilian attire as temperatures continue to soar due to the El Niño phenomenon.
Department of Education (DepEd) schools division of Negros Occidental spokesperson Ian Arnold Arnaiz said students in public schools in the province will not be required to be dressed in their uniforms and are instead allowed to wear more comfortable clothes.
Arnaiz also cited DepEd Order No. 065 series of 2010, reiterated by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio, which states that the wearing of school uniforms is no longer required for students to prevent additional expenses for the parents.
Although wearing civilian clothes is now allowed, Arnaiz reminded students that their clothing should be decent and could easily be identified by school security personnel.
Earlier, Negros Occidental High School (NOHS) in Bacolod City announced that students may opt out of their uniforms due to intense heat while attending classes.
NOHS principal Josette Terorra, in a memorandum, said students are allowed to wear white or light-colored and lightweight shirts that conform with the school’s dress code.
Boys must still wear their regular khaki pants, while girls must wear their maroon skirts.
Learners are advised to avoid longer exposure to the sun’s heat, avoid any strenuous activities, and drink water regularly to avoid heat-related illnesses.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the heat index has increased.
The heat index, also known as the apparent temperature, represents how heat is actually felt in the human body when relative humidity combines with air temperature.
Yesterday, the heat index in Bacolod City reached 40 degrees Celsius. A forecast from Pagasa predicts that the city and some parts of Negros Occidental will continue to experience high temperatures until today, March 8. (Watchmen Daily Journal)/PN
