Traffic enforcers and street sweepers will get an additional 30-minute “heatstroke break” from April 1 until May 31, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) disclosed Friday, March 25.
MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said that the agency will implement the policy to protect its workers from heat exhaustion, stroke, and cramps caused by the heatwaves.
“Under the policy, on-duty traffic enforcers and street sweepers are allowed to leave their posts in shifts and take a 30-minute break to rest,” Artes said on March 25.
For traffic enforcers who work from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m., Artes said they may take a break from 10 to 10:30 a.m. or 10:30 to 11 a.m.; either 2:30 to 3 p.m. or 3 to 3:30 p.m. for 1 to 9 p.m. shift; 11 to 11:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. to 12 noon for 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. shift; and from 3 to 3:30 p.m. or 3:30 to 4 p.m. for 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. shift.
For street sweepers who work from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. shift, they can take a break from 11 to 11:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. to 12 noon; for 7 am to 4 pm shift, 12 noon to 1 p.m.; for 11 am to 7 pm shift, either 2:30 to 3:00 p.m. or 3:00 to 3:30 p.m.
"The heatstroke break shall be done alternately by those who are assigned in a particular area to maintain visibility of traffic enforcers and street sweepers and to ensure field operations are not hampered," said Artes.
“Field personnel may also avail themselves of an additional 15-minute break in case the heat index or the 'human discomfort index' in Metro Manila reaches 40 degrees Celsius and above,” he added.