METRO

DoLE prepares heat guidelines for workers

Jeffrey Damicog · Oct 22, 2026, 3:37 AM

COMMUTERS board buses at the newly rehabilitated EDSA Busway Station in Bagong Barrio, Caloocan City, following its public reopening. Upgraded under Phase 1 of the EDSA Busway Rehabilitation Project, the station features wider platforms, improved waiting sheds, protective railings, and tactile paving. — PHOTOGRAPH BY TOTO LOZANO FOR DAILY TRIBUNE

Food and package delivery riders may soon be permitted to decline orders during peak heat hours as part of government measures to protect outdoor workers from extreme heat linked to El Niño, the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) said Wednesday.

Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino said during a radio interview that the provision will be included in upcoming workplace safety guidelines designed to protect employees and gig workers during periods of dangerous heat.

Tolentino pointed out that department evaluations identified 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. as the hottest period of the day.

Because of the extreme temperatures during those hours, Tolentino said the new framework will grant riders the “right to reject” delivery assignments between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. without facing administrative penalties or platform sanctions from app operators.

The labor chief is scheduled to meet with representatives from various digital delivery platforms on Friday to discuss the implementation details.

Tolentino said the department plans to issue four comprehensive labor advisories next week outlining workplace protocols during extreme heat conditions, describing the upcoming regulations as exhaustive.