Malacañang has pledged that the government will take action to address the potential effects of the predicted rise in temperatures and extreme heat index in the country.
In a press briefing on Monday, Palace Press Officer and Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said the agency is actively gathering data and relevant information on the potential effects of the extreme heat.
"As of now, ico-collate pa rin namin ang iba pa po na mga action plans patungkol dito," said Castro.
"Lagi pong maghahanda ang pamahalaan patungkol po dito. Kung ito po ay makakaapekto sa ekonomiya natin ay tayo po ay laging maghahanda tungkol diyan," she added.
She noted that there are currently no observable potential effects on the economy or agriculture sector, however, the government stands ready to address the heat-related challenges.
In addition, she urged the public to adhere to the Department of Health’s (DOH) recommendations to avoid health problems caused by the soaring temperatures.
The DOH recently released a public advisory urging the public to take precautions as the country faces intense heat.
Furthermore, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) also cautioned the public about the risk of heat-related emergencies, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
In its initial forecast, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) warned that Metro Manila and other provinces could face an extreme heat index.
This prompted schools in Metro Manila and nearby provinces to announced class cancellations or a shift to online modality learning.
