PEACE-MAKER
Once again, our country finds itself grappling with unbearable heat as summer temperatures soar to alarming levels. Several areas in the Philippines are experiencing extreme heat indices, prompting the Department of Education and various local government units to suspend classes for the safety of students and teachers. The Department of Health has also issued warnings and preventive measures, urging the public to stay hydrated, avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, and recognize the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
These high temperatures are not just a passing inconvenience; they are a clear and present danger that Filipinos must face every year. With climate change exacerbating the problem, it is crucial that we implement long-term solutions, including intensified tree-planting activities, the expansion of green spaces in urban centers, and better heat-mitigation policies.
Tree planting, in particular, is one of the most effective ways to combat rising temperatures. Trees provide shade, cool the environment, and improve air quality. We have long advocated for reforestation and afforestation programs, believing that a well-planned and sustained nationwide tree-planting campaign could help mitigate the deadly effects of extreme heat. Our government, private sector, and civil society must work together to rehabilitate our forests, promote urban greening, and enforce strict policies against deforestation.
In the United States in the 1930s, President Franklin D. Roosevelt launched the Shelterbelt Project as part of the New Deal, planting over 220 million trees across the Great Plains to combat the Dust Bowl’s devastating effects. The Dust Bowl was a series of dust storms that occurred in the Great Plains during the 1930s. It was caused by drought, overfarming, and poor farming practices.
The deadly consequences of extreme heat have been tragically demonstrated in world history. One of the most catastrophic heat waves occurred in Europe in 2003, when an intense summer claimed an estimated 70,000 lives, particularly in France, Italy, and Spain. Many of the victims were elderly individuals who succumbed to heatstroke and dehydration due to the lack of adequate cooling measures. This disaster serves as a grim reminder that soaring temperatures can be lethal and that governments must prioritize policies to protect their citizens from extreme weather conditions.
In our country, adding to the urgency of the situation is the ongoing campaign period for the upcoming elections. With candidates and their supporters holding rallies, motorcades, and house-to-house visits under the scorching sun, the risk of heat-related illnesses rises significantly. We urge everyone—politicians, campaign workers, and the voting public—to take necessary precautions.
Year after year, we endure the same heat-related challenges. It is time we take decisive action to address this recurring threat. The government must push for more climate-resilient policies, improve infrastructure to provide cooling solutions in public spaces, and educate citizens on how to protect themselves. More importantly, we must treat our environment with greater care, for it is our best natural defense against the punishing heat.
Extreme temperatures are no longer just a seasonal inconvenience—they are a crisis we can no longer ignore. Let us act now.