Extreme heat suspends classes in 122 Western Visayas schools

ILOILO CITY — Danger-level heat index forecasts forced 122 public schools across Western Visayas to suspend face-to-face classes on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, affecting 113,022 learners, according to the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6.

Iloilo City recorded the highest number of affected learners, with 73,127 students from 65 schools.

Roxas City followed with 31,685 learners from 50 schools, while seven schools in other parts of Capiz accounted for 8,210 affected learners.

The suspensions came as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecast a heat index of 43 degrees Celsius in Iloilo City and 42 degrees Celsius in Roxas City, both within the danger category.

Mambusao, Capiz, and Dumangas, Iloilo, were also forecast to experience elevated heat index readings of 40 degrees Celsius.

The heat index measures how hot the weather feels to the human body when air temperature and relative humidity are combined.

PAGASA classifies heat index readings of 42 to 51 degrees Celsius under the danger category.

The agency warns that prolonged exposure to these conditions can cause heat cramps and heat exhaustion, while continued exposure may lead to heatstroke.

Residents are advised to limit outdoor activities, stay in shaded or well-ventilated areas, drink plenty of water and take regular breaks to reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses.

DepEd-6 spokesperson Hernani Escullar Jr. said in an interview that school heads may suspend face-to-face classes and shift to alternative learning arrangements whenever extreme heat threatens the health and safety of learners and teachers.

“They may assess actual conditions on their campuses and decide whether to suspend in-person classes based on the risks to their school communities. But they must inform their respective schools division superintendents of their decisions,” he said.

Escullar explained that schools are guided by DepEd’s 4H Framework, which allows adjustments to learning activities and school operations depending on local heat conditions.

The framework forms part of the department’s preparedness measures for the 2026-2027 Super El Niño under DepEd Memorandum No. 064, series of 2026.

The memorandum emphasizes localized decisions based on actual conditions inside classrooms rather than relying solely on blanket suspensions.

Schools are directed to monitor indoor temperature and humidity at 8 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. to help determine appropriate safety measures.

DepEd’s 4H Framework guides class adjustments

The framework establishes four response levels based on heat index readings: Hayo (Move Forward) for below 27 degrees Celsius; Hinay (Slow Down) for 27 to 32 degrees Celsius; Hinga (Breathe) for 33 to 41 degrees Celsius; and Hinto (Stop) for 42 degrees Celsius and above.

Under Hayo, schools may continue face-to-face classes while providing scheduled water breaks, improving classroom ventilation and adjusting outdoor activities.

At the Hinay level, school heads may shorten on-site class hours, modify schedules or shift to hybrid and home-based learning arrangements.

Under Hinga, face-to-face classes are suspended, while academic requirements are reduced to protect learners from extreme heat.

Schools may provide lighter home-based activities, printed learning packets and supplementary educational materials while maintaining communication with learners and their families.

At the Hinto level, all academic activities, including home-based learning tasks, are suspended because of the heightened health and safety risks.

Schools are expected to maintain essential communication with learners and their families and conduct safety and welfare checks during the suspension.

The framework also requires schools to assess water availability and take measures to ensure access to safe drinking water.

Escullar said teachers are prepared to continue lessons through alternative delivery modes in the coming days, depending on weather conditions and the needs of their schools.

These arrangements may include printed modules, take-home learning materials and other distance learning activities when conditions permit.

The measures are intended to reduce disruptions to education while prioritizing the welfare of learners, teachers and school personnel.

EO 130 gives schools more flexibility

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 130 on Oct. 28, 2026, establishing a new framework for suspending and resuming classes, school activities and on-site work in public and private educational institutions.

The order, made public Nov. 3, allows schools to respond to documented, site-specific threats to the safety and health of learners and personnel.

It establishes three suspension mechanisms: automatic suspension, localized suspension and school-level or granular suspension.

Automatic suspension applies when official warnings, advisories or alert levels issued by agencies such as PAGASA, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) meet prescribed hazard thresholds.

Localized suspension allows local chief executives to suspend classes based on prevailing conditions, verified threats and documented risk assessments within their jurisdictions.

School-level suspension allows authorized school officials to suspend in-person classes and activities based on documented conditions that threaten the safety, health or welfare of learners and personnel.

Schools may exercise this authority in coordination with the concerned local chief executive when no applicable automatic or local government-ordered suspension is in effect.

EO 130 also allows educational institutions to seek the early resumption of face-to-face classes even while a localized suspension remains in force.

However, the school must first conduct a documented safety assessment and secure the concurrence of the concerned local chief executive.

The order emphasizes that suspending in-person classes does not necessarily mean suspending learning.

Educational institutions are required to implement appropriate learning continuity measures, consistent with the policies of DepEd and other concerned education agencies, whenever conditions allow.

The flexibility is particularly relevant during extreme heat events, when conditions can vary significantly between schools depending on classroom ventilation, access to drinking water and other environmental factors.

Under the order, DepEd and other concerned agencies have 30 days from its effectivity to issue implementing guidelines covering hazard thresholds, documentation requirements and coordination procedures.

EO 130 amends Executive Order No. 66, series of 2012, which previously governed class suspensions and government office work during typhoons, flooding and other weather disturbances.

For schools across Western Visayas, the new framework provides additional mechanisms to respond to extreme weather while balancing students’ safety with the need to maintain educational continuity.