Summer is surely here and temperatures are rising. The heat index in certain areas is keeping well above 40 degrees celsius and advisories regarding dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat strokes are prevalent. El Niño is definitely not helping, adding maybe 2-3 degrees to the already high readings.
Absolutely, we have to take care, including tweaking our daily activities whenever possible to minimize exposure to extreme heat.
Government has already taken the lead. The Department of Education has allowed school heads to suspend face-to-face classes if the heat rises to onerous levels. On April 5, it was reported that the number of schools that suspended onsite classes rose to 5,288, affecting as many as 3.6 million public school students. Schools are also encouraged to take precautionary measures such as allowing more comfortable clothing for teachers and students, installing water coolers, suspending outdoor activities and assuring working cooling equipment like fans.
In the mid-term, government is also trying to revert to the old academic calendar that runs from June to March, with school vacation in April and May to avoid the hottest months of the year. Although the DepEd is supportive, it sees the transition happening only by 2026. An immediate change is not possible since it involves cutting into the rest days of teachers and students. Calls to speed up the transition are indicative, though, of the urgency of the situation.
The spike in temperatures has resulted in a host of unintended consequences. Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic enforcers and street cleaners are being provided additional rest periods to cool down and avoid heat exhaustion.
The Metro Manila Council (MMC) recently passed a resolution shifting work hours of local government units to 7am to 4pm, an hour earlier than usual. While intended more to alleviate traffic congestion, it can also be considered as a way of dodging higher temperatures and reducing electricity consumption by getting an early start to the day. This is similar to the daylight savings time practiced in some northern hemisphere countries.
Just last week, 66 power plants were reported to have failed due to a surge in demand. Filipinos have been running airconditioners, fans and other cooling equipment more than usual, for longer than usual. If school is reverted to remote learning, this is expected to result in further hike in electricity consumption as children stay home. Some companies have resorted to the Interruptible Load Program to alleviate demand surges. The Department of Energy says that every one degree increase in temperature translates to a 100-megawatt increase in energy consumption.
Anecdotally, even chicken eggs have not been spared from the heat. The sizes of eggs that are being hatched are reported to be getting smaller. It seems that the heat has affected the ability of chickens to produce regular or jumbo-sized eggs.
And even as days get hotter, many global events are raising geo-political temperatures as well. Of course, the Ukraine and Russia conflict continues to rage, with financial aid from the United States becoming a scorching political issue. The ongoing Israel and Gaza war is also fueling heated debates around the world in light of the rising humanitarian tolls. Then, most recently, the direct missile attack by Iran on Israel – and the expected retaliatory attacks that will surely ensue – has also increased global tensions that will undoubtedly have all sorts of economic fallout ranging from increasing oil prices, logistics and supply chain disruptions, a flight to currency havens and more.
All these foretell turbulent days ahead. Economic forecasts are going through urgent revisions even as first quarter economic and business results are still freshly minted. While analysts vary in the adjustment on their projections – up to 0.5% – most have gravitated to downward revisions. Stock markets are under siege. Interest rates are remaining elevated and US Federal rate cuts originally expected in summer are now being pushed back to later in the year, if at all. Inflation is expected to remain stickier than originally thought. And the Philippine peso is dropping in value.
But, bright spots still remain. OFW remittances continue to grow. Foreign Direct Investments are climbing. Infrastructure spending is sustained. The balance of trade deficit is stabilizing, if not dropping. Exports for electronics are rising.
In light of all these developments, it is critical that we keep our cool. We should not hit the panic button and resort to highly reactive measures. Let us help manage our electric consumption. Let us plan trips to save fuel. Let us consider split work-shifts to reduce workplace demands. Let us manage operating costs to mitigate inflationary pressures. Let us be more innovative in seeking solutions that will help us ride through this heat wave and surge in economic disruptions. Summer will pass and we move on to the next season – hopefully a cooler clime.
For comments: [email protected]