As daytime temperatures soar in the metropolis amid the El Niño phenomenon, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna has directed the capital city’s health office, social welfare services, and disaster risk reduction and management office to draft a Heat Index Action Plan Matrix to guide the city on how to cope with intense hot weather.
“Bilang ina ng Lungsod ng Maynila, dama ko po ang paghihirap ng mga kapwa ko Manileño na dulot ng labis na init ng panahon. Bilang doktora, batid kong maraming health risks sa katawan ng tao yang grabeng init, lalo pa sa mga senior citizens, may comorbidities, PWDs, buntis, at mga sanggol,” Lacuna stressed.
“Suspension of classes and work are just a part of the preventive measures we will have.”
“Suspension of classes and work are just a part of the preventive measures we will have. The Heat Index Action Plan Matrix I would like submitted to me for approval should be reasonably comprehensive. It would be best that it be ready for my signature as an EXECUTIVE ORDER as soon as possible,” the mayor-doctor explained.
“We need only improve upon the heat index system PAGASA is using now because it is incomplete. The PAGASA heat index system has alert levels or different temperature levels. Manila should have specific local measures at each alert level,” she added.
“Manila’s hospitals and health centers should be ready for heart attacks, strokes, and disease outbreaks from water contamination.”
Lacuna added that given the ongoing El Niño, “we should expect more than the normal incidence of dry season-associated illnesses like skin rashes, prickly heat, dehydration, dengue, heat exhaustion, food poisoning, and heat stroke. Manila’s hospitals and health centers should be ready for heart attacks, strokes, and disease outbreaks from water contamination because many thirsty people have higher water demand. There should be first aid training at the barangay level because first aid must be done first before patients are rushed to hospitals.”
She also said the Bureau of Fire Protection stationed in Manila, the many volunteer fire brigades, barangay tanods, and barangay health centers “should be at high readiness alert beyond the usual, especially for our vulnerable residents—the seniors, pregnant mothers, those with comorbidities, PWDs, and persons with special needs.”
“Manila’s adapted heat index system should indicate when residents shall be required to stay indoors when outdoor activities at school and work shall be suspended, when face-to-face classes and onsite work shall be suspended, and when businesses that use a lot of water should reduce water use or limit their operations at night or temporarily stop operations for the greater good,” Lacuna pointed out.
“To improve our fire response and prevention measures, I also ask the Bureau of Fire Protection for their inputs on what else we can do to prevent fires and respond better to fires. We have had several big fires already in the first quarter of 2024. We really must find ways to prevent fires caused by gadget chargers, faulty wirings, exploding LPG tanks and propane canisters, and unattended candles,” she concluded.
