Nearly half of Manila’s schools suspended in-person classes on Monday, March 3, as extreme heat threatened to reach dangerous levels, local officials confirmed.
According to the state weather bureau, the heat index in the capital and nearby areas was expected to rise high enough to trigger heat cramps and heat exhaustion, prompting authorities to advise limited outdoor activity.
While the actual temperature in Manila was forecast at 33 degrees Celsius, the heat index – which factors in humidity – pushed local governments to close schools in at least seven districts as a precaution.
In Malabon, over 68,000 students from 42 schools were affected, with officials citing safety protocols implemented during last year’s heatwave. “We were surprised by the advisory, but we acted quickly to protect students,” Malabon education officer Edgar Bonifacio said.
Valenzuela district also suspended face-to-face classes in 69 schools, shifting students to online learning for the day.
The sudden class suspensions come as the school year nears its end in mid-April, raising concerns over lost school days.
This move follows last year’s record-breaking heatwave that led to daily class suspensions in April and May, with Manila hitting a historic high of 38.8 degrees Celsius.
Experts continue to warn that global warming, driven by human activities like the burning of fossil fuels, is making extreme heat events more frequent and intense, posing growing risks to health, safety, and education.
