Rising heat index: a wake-up call for more green spaces 

SEVERAL Manila officials called for additional green spaces in Manila as a solution to mitigate the increasing heat index, which peaked at 45 degrees Celsius on April 30.  

In an interview last April 26, Sarah Labastilya, Manila’s fifth district chief city planning officer, said that placing small plants around one’s home could make a huge difference.  

“[D]apat mag-double effort tayo kung paano natin ma-re-reduce [‘yong heat]. Kasi pag nagtanim tayo, hindi lang ‘yan sa local climate, ‘yong microclimatic condition, even sa air,” she added.  

The heat index, also called the “feels-like temperature,” is the temperature perceived by the body, which is measured by the air temperature and relative humidity. 

The country’s heat index could reach an “extreme danger” level of 57 degrees Celsius, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services (Pagasa) said.  

Meanwhile, Metro Manila’s heat index could reach a peak of 48 degrees Celsius following the recent forecast.  

Labastilya added that planting more green spaces in the city could really help with the improvement not only with air quality but also the rising temperatures.  

According to the United States Environmental Protection Energy, “trees and other plants help cool the environment, making vegetation a simple and effective way to reduce urban heat islands.”  

However, the chief city planning officer admitted that Manila’s infrastructure density could also be the leading cause of the rising urban heat index and poor air quality.  

“Kasi nga, paved na lahat ng kalsada...ang daming tao ang liit ng space,” she said. “Ang housing [programs] namin hindi na siya ‘yong outward, kumbaga vertical na siya, pero we believe this is the direction we should go because we have to optimize whatever land that we have.”  

Apart from this, Labastilya told the Manila Forefront that they are aiming for a 10-year strategic plan called “Magnificent Manila,” a campaign where more green spaces, vertical gardens, and the Green Building code will be slowly implemented.  

Out of the 55 parks in the bustling crowds of Manila, Arroceros Urban Park stands as the “last lung” because it is the only forest park in the country’s capital.  

Gideon Navaro, acting assistant department head of the Parks Development Office, echoed the need to establish vertical gardens as part of the city’s efforts to create a greener Manila.  

“Dahil wala na tayong space, ‘di ba? Mga verticals [na lang]. So, [kung] napapansin mo, Maraming na tayong verticals sa labas kasi hindi na tayong makatanim ng horizontal,” he said.  

Despite these, Navaro stressed the need for proper implementation of the Green Building Code, especially for schools and universities, whose students struggle to learn amidst the scorching heat.  

The Philippine Green Building Code aims to improve the overall efficiency of building performance by promoting resource management and sustainability “while minimizing the negative impact of buildings on human health and the environment.” 

Surviving the heat “waves”  

As a response to the blistering temperatures gripping the nation, the Department of Education (DepEd) has announced the suspension of in-person classes in all public schools from April 29 to 30. 

DepEd’s implementation of asynchronous classes came from the latest heat index forecast by the Pagasa, which refrained students and staff from attending classes in its advisory issued on Sunday, April 28.  

Despite recent suspensions, students still struggle to survive the heat wave while focusing on their academics. 

“The impact of heat on my well-being as a student is multifaceted. High temperatures make learning challenging. It’s harder to concentrate, retain information, and perform tasks efficiently. It can also diminish energy levels and motivation, making it harder to engage in class discussions actively,” said Andrea Galvez, a fourth-year student from De La Salle University.  

Ruel Umali, a third-year political science student from the University of Santo Tomas, said the heat is no match even with the presence of a hand-held fan and umbrella.  

“‘’Di talaga ako sanay sa sobrang init, and very pawisin ako so it’s either masisira na mood ko buong araw or mawawalan ako ng gana mag-aral because ‘di ako maka-focus if init na init na ako. Pero wala ka choice, need mo pumasok kahit sobrang init,” he said.  

In response to extreme heat, the DepEd, in a senate hearing last Tuesday, agreed with the immediate return to the old academic calendar, where students would have a break from April to May according to DepEd Order No. 3., leaving some students to agree to this.  

“It can be a reasonable idea to return the academic year to the conventional calendar to avoid holding onsite classes between March and April. By coordinating the school year with better weather, this change may lessen the difficulties and health hazards of conducting classes on-site during the hottest months,” Galvez said. 

While the suspension of in-person classes only provides temporary relief, Dan Aguam, a student at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, argued that the issue also lies in the lack of adequate infrastructure to mitigate the heat, raising concerns regarding the suitability of classrooms.  

Galvez also echoed Aguam’s sentiment, stating, “Beyond using online classes… the local government unit and school administrators can install cooling systems, changing school hours to avoid peak heat, put in place heat safety measures… ensuring that students have access to cold water…and install shaded areas.” 

While the temporary suspension of in-person classes offers some respite from the heat, the need for sustainable solutions to combat extreme heat, such as improving infrastructure and implementing environmental initiatives, remains paramount.  

“Suspending classes can help mitigate the effects of heat on students, [but] I wouldn't say it's a complete solution. It does offer some relief by eliminating the need for students to travel. However, the heat itself doesn't disappear just because they're at home,” Galvez said. --Janica Kate J. Buan and Jan Paolo M. Espolong