QC forms Heat Action Team vs climate threats
By Trixee Rosel
Published Jun 3, 2026 12:40 pm
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Updated Jun 3, 2026 01:50 pm
Quezon City Hall (Photo courtesy of the Quezon City government)
The Quezon City government has created a Heat Action Team (QC‑HAT) to boost its response to extreme weather and safeguard residents from rising climate risks.
Quezon City has recorded heat index levels reaching 42 to 44 degrees Celsius in 2024 and 2025, raising concerns over health impacts, learning disruptions, higher energy consumption, water stress, and increased household expenses.
“The city government recognizes extreme heat as a critical public health and safety emergency. It unfairly affects the most marginalized sector, specifically those belonging to the informal sector and outdoor workers, who lack cool, safe, and decent housing and immediate health services,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
She added that the HAT will strengthen existing cooling interventions and develop a science-based Heat Action Plan to guide long-term climate adaptation and resilience efforts.
The team will formulate and implement heat mitigation measures, conduct vulnerability assessments in high-risk communities, and recommend policy actions to the City Council, while ensuring coordinated action across sectors.
The QC‑HAT will be chaired by Mayor Belmonte, with the Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department (CCESD) spearheading planning, coordination, and policy integration.
The Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (QCDRRMO) will oversee operational response and inter-agency coordination, while the city health department’s epidemiology and surveillance unit will monitor and report heat-related illnesses.
In April, the city convened the Urban Heat and Drought Summit, bringing together stakeholders from government, academia, civil society, and the private sector to align strategies on climate-resilient cooling solutions and adaptation measures.
The local government has also designated 32 community libraries as cooling centers for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, children, and other vulnerable residents during periods of extreme heat.