Camille Naredo

Students arrive for the afternoon classes at the President Corazon Aquino Elementary School in Batasan Hills Quezon City on April 7, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Students arrive for the afternoon classes at the President Corazon Aquino Elementary School in Batasan Hills Quezon City on April 7, 2025.
The Education Department allowed schools around the country to implement adjusted class schedules from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. for morning sessions and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. for afternoon sessions, as the heat index is forecast to reach more than 42 degrees Celsius, which falls within the danger levels.  Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

HIGH HEAT INDEX- SCHOOLS

Ariel Rojas

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177566175858620250407-heat-index-corazon-aquino-school-JC5987.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Students arrive for the afternoon classes at the President Corazon Aquino Elementary School in Batasan Hills Quezon City on April 7, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Students arrive for the afternoon classes at the President Corazon Aquino Elementary School in Batasan Hills Quezon City on April 7, 2025. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — As the Philippines enters the peak of the warm and dry season, more areas will experience higher heat index values, PAGASA said Wednesday.</p><p>“April pa lang at nakakapagtala na tayo ng matataas na heat index kaya inaasahan natin na may mga lugar pa na mas tataas ang heat index mula ngayong Abril hanggang Mayo,” Jorybelle Masallo, chief of the Impact Assessment and Applications Section said.</p><p>Since monitoring began in March, the heat index has reached danger level, peaking at 47°C, measured in Virac, Catanduanes on March 31 and April 1.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/8/scorching-days-steady-hustle-street-vendors-brave-dry-season-heat-1531">Scorching days, steady hustle: Street vendors brave dry season heat</a></div><p>Heat index is the &quot;feels like&quot; temperature, which indicates how hot the body feels when considering both the air temperature and humidity.</p><p>Heat index values of 42 to 51°C fall under the danger level, where heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely, and prolonged exposure may lead to heat stroke.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>HOTTER IN LOWLANDS AND CITIES, IN THE AFTERNOON</strong></div><p>Some areas are more prone to higher heat index values.</p><p>“Usually talaga sa mabababang lugar ng ating bansa ‘yung matataas ang heat index. At dito na rin sa mga urban areas, kung saan meron ding urban heat effect… siyempre ‘pag mas marami ang buildings, unlike sa probinsya na mas marami pang mga puno,” Masallo explained.</p><p>She added that hotter conditions are more likely in the afternoon.</p><p>“Mula alas dose maaaring matataas na ang heat index hanggang alas kwatro. Kaya yung mga aktibidad ng ating mga kababayan hangga’t maaari iwasan yung mga ganitong oras kung saan mas matataas ang inaasahan nating heat index.”</p><p>But in terms of actual air temperature (not heat index), parts of Luzon may reach 40°C this April based on PAGASA projections. In Metro Manila, the mercury may hit 39°C.</p><p>So far, four areas have recorded temperatures of 37.0°C or higher since the warm and dry season started:</p><p>37.4°C    San Jose, Occidental Mindoro  April 6  </p><p>37.1°C    Tuguegarao City, Cagayan    April 7 </p><p>37.0°C    Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya   April 6 </p><p>37.0°C    Camiling, Tarlac               April 6</p><p>In Metro Manila, the PAGASA station at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City recorded 36.8°C on April 5. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>NO REPORTED HEAT-RELATED CASES YET</strong></div><p>Despite the rising temperatures, the Department of Health has yet to record any heat-related cases.</p><p>“Wala pa tayong nakukuha na mga reports ng heat stroke – ‘yung pinakadelikado na nawawalan ng malay, umiinit ‘yung balat, namumula ‘pag sobrang dehydrated ka na,” DOH spokesperson Undersecretary Albert Domingo said.</p><p>He reiterated practical measures to avoid heat stress, including staying hydrated, wearing light and breathable clothing, ensuring proper ventilation, avoiding direct sun exposure between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., and using sun protection such as umbrellas, hats, and sunscreen.</p><p>Apart from heat-related diseases, Domingo also warned of diseases that become more common during the warm and dry season, such as conjunctivitis or sore eyes, food poisoning, measles, and rabies. Influenza-like symptoms may also occur due to irritation caused by heat.</p><p>“Nangungurot yung init, naaapektuhan ‘yung oropharyngeal tract, kasama ‘yung ating lalamunan, ‘yung ating ilong… It’s more of irritation sa mga taong tulad ko na sensitive sa changes in temperature.”</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/weather-traffic/2026/4/8/potential-supertyphoon-may-enter-par-next-week-pagasa-1127">Potential supertyphoon may enter PAR next week - PAGASA</a></div><p>He also reminded the public to practice handwashing and hand hygiene to prevent viral and bacterial infections.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>COLLABORATE WITH PAGASA</strong></div><p>As hot conditions persist across the country, many local government units have stepped up monitoring and public advisories on heat.</p><p>Masallo encouraged LGUs to closely coordinate with the weather bureau to ensure accuracy in issuing weather-related information.</p><p>“DOST-PAGASA talaga ang mandated agency sa mga ganitong mga warnings or mga ganitong advisory. Ngayon dun sa ating mga LGUs na nagkakaroon ng mga initiative, maganda ito subalit hangga’t maaari, kumonsulta pa rin sila sa PAGASA. Open naman tayo dito na i-capacitate natin ‘yung kanilang mga… nasa disaster para mas maging tama ‘yung pagbibigay ng ating mga advisories sa publiko.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED STORY:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6omwsyde21w?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>As the Philippines enters the peak of the warm and dry season, more areas will experience higher heat index values, PAGASA said Wednesday.</p>

As the Philippines enters the peak of the warm and dry season, more areas will experience higher heat index values, PAGASA said Wednesday.

More areas to expect higher heat index as PH enters peak of warm and dry season

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More areas to expect higher heat index as PH enters peak of warm and dry season

Ariel Rojas,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 09, 2026 12:16 AM PHT

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