MANILA (September 30) — Schools, government offices and outdoor workplaces may have to start earlier as the country prepares for the expected impacts of El Niño, with the Climate Change Commission (CCC) urging local governments to keep people out of the heat during the most dangerous hours of the day.
CCC Commissioner Albert dela Cruz said schools could consider holding classes from 6 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., avoiding outdoor exposure between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
“The hours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. should be avoided,” dela Cruz said in an interview with Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.
The proposed schedule changes could affect thousands of students and workers, particularly those in communities where heat, water shortages and long travel times already make daily routines difficult.
The CCC said it would coordinate with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Labor and Employment on possible adjustments for outdoor workers, particularly those in construction and agriculture.
Local governments were also urged to establish water, hydration and cooling stations in crowded areas as El Niño could bring below-normal rainfall and intensify heat-related risks.
Protecting vulnerable communities
Dela Cruz advised senior citizens and people with pre-existing conditions, including respiratory illnesses, to minimize outdoor activities from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For schools, however, shifting class hours may not be enough. Local governments and education officials will also have to consider access to drinking water, classroom ventilation, transportation and the ability of families to cope with earlier schedules.
These challenges could be more pronounced in low-income and rural communities, where students and workers may travel long distances and have limited access to water and cooling facilities.
Farmers urged to shift crops
The CCC is also urging farmers to prepare for possible agricultural losses by diversifying into crops that require less water.
Dela Cruz said farmers should not insist on rice production in areas expected to experience water shortages, and instead consider locally adapted crops such as kamote, bananas and malunggay.
He said malunggay is being considered for wider production because it could generate up to P30,000 in monthly income per hectare, potentially offering farmers an alternative to water-intensive crops.
But shifting crops will require more than advice. Farmers will need access to planting materials, technical assistance, markets and reliable income opportunities if crop diversification is to become a viable response to El Niño.
From forecasts to action
The CCC said policies are already in place for areas historically vulnerable to El Niño, but dela Cruz stressed that their effectiveness will ultimately depend on implementation.
“We need a political will,” he said, calling for governance that is data-based and science-driven, rather than “business as usual.”
He urged local governments to convene municipal planning and development coordinators and other technical personnel to prepare for El Niño.
For communities on the front line of the heat and water crisis, the test will be whether climate forecasts are translated into earlier school hours, safer workplaces, accessible water and practical support for farmers—before the impacts become an emergency.
