ILOILO City – A total of 652 public schools in Western Visayas comprising 381,415 learners have transitioned from face-to-face classes to alternative delivery modes (ADM) due to the high heat index.
Of these, 458 schools as of March 7 are using Self-Learning Modules (SLMs); 93 schools have adopted hybrid learning; and 101 schools are implementing the Dynamic Learning Program (DLP).
According to Hernani Escullar Jr., information officer of the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6, the decision to switch learning modes was made by local chief executives (LCEs), Schools Division Superintendents (SDS), or school principals who were the first to recognize the impact of high heat indices in their areas.
“Under our memorandum, the discretion to shift to Alternative Delivery Modes (ADMs) rests with the LCEs, SDSs, or school heads,” Escullar told Panay News.
The shift to ADMs began this March, as the heat index in several areas of the region rose, with some days categorized under the “extreme caution” level, ranging from 31 to 41 degrees Celsius.
On March 4, for instance, the heat index reached 39 degrees Celsius at noon in Iloilo City and province.
“Extreme caution” means the heat could cause health problems such as discomfort, heat stroke, heat cramps, and heat exhaustion.
Escullar expressed relief that, despite the hot weather in recent days, they have not received reports of any students requiring medical attention or being brought to health facilities due to heat-related issues.
“So far, we have not received any information regarding such cases. We hope this continues until the end of the school year. Given the guidelines in place, Schools Division Offices and School Heads are well-guided on how to avoid such incidents,” Escullar added.
He further explained that this is not the first time schools have faced high heat indices, as this issue was also experienced last school year. In response, DepEd-Central Office developed guidelines and adjustments to ensure that school buildings are resilient against the heat. Furthermore, many schools have installed electric fans and air conditioning units to help alleviate the heat for learners.
In some cases, schools allow students to forgo uniforms or wear cooler clothing during classes if necessary.
In a related development, Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas issued an executive order establishing new guidelines and protocols for the suspension of face-to-face classes due to high heat indices.
The measure follows data monitored by the Iloilo City Operations Center, which tracks rising temperatures in the first months of 2025 using local early warning devices from the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical (PAGASA) and other scientific sources.
The analysis indicates that peak heat indices are typically observed in the afternoon, particularly around 12 noon and 2 p.m. February showed more consistently higher temperatures compared to January, which was more affected by seasonal weather disturbances. As a result, the Iloilo City Operations Center recommended a new threshold for class suspension at a heat index of 40 degrees Celsius, based on the 5 p.m. advisory from PAGASA.
The new protocol states that when the forecasted heat index reaches 40 degrees Celsius, school heads have the option to adjust class schedules to start earlier and end before noon, then shift to alternative learning modes in the afternoon. If the forecasted heat index reaches 42 degrees Celsius, face-to-face classes will be automatically suspended, and schools must switch to alternative delivery modes.
At the tertiary level, university administrators are strongly encouraged to adopt alternative learning modes.
Last year, the threshold for suspension was set at 42 degrees Celsius, which corresponds to the “danger” category on the heat index chart.
Activities in the “danger” category (42 to 51 degrees Celsius) are restricted for high-risk groups, such as vulnerable workers and the elderly, with activities rescheduled to cooler parts of the day./PN
