ACT demands Marcos Jr. admin take real action as schools halt classes over extreme heat

Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines urged appropriate government response following the slew of class suspensions in Metro Manila on Monday, March 3. 

The following cities suspended classes due to the forecasted extreme heat, with the heat index peaking at 42° Celsius by 2:00 pm.

• Malabon City – All levels, public and private
• Valenzuela City – Kinder to senior high school, public and private (No face-to-face classes)
• Caloocan City – Kinder to senior high school, public (No face-to-face classes)
• Las Piñas City – All levels, public and private (No face-to-face classes)
• Parañaque City – All levels, public and private (No face-to-face classes)
• Manila City – All levels, public and private (No afternoon classes)
• Marikina City – All levels, public and private (No afternoon classes)
• Pasay City – All levels, public and private (No face-to-face classes)
• Valenzuela City Technological College – No face-to-face classes
• La Salle Green Hills – Preschool to Grade 12 (No face-to-face classes)

Several cities have also switched to asynchronous learning or modular distance learning due to the high heat index. Individuals are further advised to take necessary precautions to avoid heat-related illnesses such as staying hydrated, limiting outdoor activities, and wearing light clothing.

In a press statement, ACT Philippines National Chairperson Vladimir Quetua highlighted that the exacerbated conditions that teachers and students face especially during extreme weather situations were brought about by an underlying systemic problem.

“The suspension of classes is necessary but merely a band-aid solution to a systemic problem. Our students and teachers suffer not just from extreme weather but from the government’s chronic neglect of our education infrastructure,” Quetua stated.

He explained that the lack of classrooms, clinics, and even essential personnel such as nurses contribute to the prevailing problems school communities face during the hot season. 

“The situation has become so desperate that students are being asked to forego their uniforms, bring personal fans, and crowd into clinics or canteens just to get drinking water. This is unacceptable in a country that claims to prioritize education,” he added.

Quetua called for immediate emergency measures and long-term solutions:

1. Immediate release of Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) funds to schools for emergency cooling measures

2. Fast-tracking the construction of the promised 15,000 climate-resilient classrooms 

3. Significant increase in the 2026 budget for school infrastructure, targeting the 250,000 classroom shortage

4. Establishment of properly equipped clinics with nurses in every school

5. Implementation of heat emergency protocols in all educational institutions

ACT also called for the immediate passage of House Bill 6398 or the Safe and Healthy Facilities for Educational Institutions Act. 

“This is not just about comfort—this is about our children’s fundamental right to learn in safe, healthy environments. The Marcos Jr. administration must act now before this crisis claims lives,” Quetua ended.