Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Friday commended the Department of Education (DepEd) for promptly adjusting class schedules to protect students and teachers from the intense heat.

“I’m grateful to DepEd for making these adjustments. The safety and welfare of our people are very important to me. We managed to switch to online learning before, and we can do it again now — not just for students but for workers as well. As chair of the Senate Committee on Health, this is a priority for me,” Go said in a radio interview, emphasizing that reverting to remote learning, if necessary, is a viable option. He also urged employers to consider adjusting work hours to ensure the well-being of their employees.

Under DepEd’s guidelines, schools are allowed to modify schedules and implement alternative learning methods to ensure the safety and comfort of classrooms. Typical measures include holding morning sessions from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., providing asynchronous activities during midday, and resuming afternoon sessions from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

DepEd has also recommended limiting outdoor activities, improving ventilation, and setting up hydration stations.

In Abra, the provincial government has suspended face-to-face classes in both public and private schools due to the extreme heat. Online classes and other remote learning methods will continue to ensure that education remains uninterrupted.

Meanwhile, in Baguio City, temperatures have been rising, ranging from around 17°C in the morning to about 24°C at midday. Local officials are urging the public to follow health and safety guidelines to avoid heat-related illnesses.