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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PAGASA, not LGUs, should declare class suspensions due to intense summer heat--solon

PAGASA, not LGUs, should declare class suspensions due to intense summer heat--solon

Published Apr 3, 2024 07:11 pm

At A Glance

  • It's the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) that should declare the suspension of classes on days of intensely hot weather, not the local government units (LGUs), Valenzuela City 2nd district Rep. Eric Martinez said.

FB_IMG_1712164898474.jpgValenzuela City 2nd district Rep. Eric Martinez (Facebook)



It's the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) that should declare the suspension of classes on days of intensely hot weather, not the local government units (LGUs).

Valenzuela City 2nd district Rep. Eric Martinez made this pitch even as he prodded PAGASA to come up and implement a comprehensive government protocol specifically tailored for the dry season.

Martinez, a vice chairman of the House Committee on Public Information, reckoned that the impact of climate change has been "increasingly evident". He said this has created a "new normal" in terms of summer heat.

"This is the new normal with global warming, and PAGASA also has to adapt to this new normal....Kung may protocol sa tag-ulan, dapat may protocal na rin sa tag-init (If there are protocols for the rainy season, then there should be protocols for summer)," he argued.

According to the solon, adapting to this new normal is essential for safeguarding local communities and ensuring effective governance. He said it reinforces the need for proactive measures to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change and enhance Filipinos' preparedness given the country's vulnerability to natural disasters.

A key part of Martinez's proposal is the elevation of PAGASA as the primary authority in weather-related decision-making processes.

"Sila (PAGASA) talaga yung dapat pakinggan ng lahat, hindi si mayor na lang ang magsabi, 'Mainit, sige cancelled ang klase,” he pointed out.

(It's PAGASA that everyone should listen to, and it shouldn't be the mayor who should declare, 'It's hot, let’s cancel classes.')

He stresses that the weather bureau, which is equipped with the expertise and has more reliable data than LGUs, ought to spearhead the policy implementation.

As such, Martinez advocates for PAGASA to take the lead in critical matters such as the suspension of classes during adverse weather conditions.

He says this would streamline the decision-making processes on response mechanisms across the country.


Related Tags

Eric Martinez class suspension PAGASA
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