Climate panel urges schools, agencies to shift schedules for El Niño

MANILA, Philippines — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) on Tuesday advised schools and government agencies to shift their schedules ahead of the expected impacts of El Niño in the country.

In an interview with Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon, Commissioner Albert dela Cruz suggested that schools adjust their schedules as part of local governments’ implementation of their climate action plans, possibly holding classes from 6 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

“The hours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. should be avoided, so if possible, our students should attend classes from 6 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and then go home,” he said.

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READ: Palace: Govt steps up preparations for ‘very strong’ El Niño

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The commission would also communicate with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Labor and Employment to address schedule adjustments for outdoor workers, particularly those in construction and agriculture.

The CCC also advised other vulnerable sectors to minimize time outdoors, as El Niño could bring below-normal rainfall.

“Senior citizens and other vulnerable sectors with pre-existing conditions, including respiratory diseases, should also avoid going outside from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.,” dela Cruz said.

Local governments are also encouraged to develop water and hydration facilities and cooling stations, particularly in crowded areas.

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He also urged agricultural workers to look for other locally grown crops to cultivate amid the looming El Niño, saying that farmers should not insist on rice production, as rice would be among the crops primarily affected by the phenomenon.

“We need to look for endemic cash crops that do not require a lot of water and are regenerative,” he said, adding that farmers should plant varieties of kamote, bananas and malunggay as these crops can be grown anywhere.

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Malunggay is also being considered for mainstreaming since it can generate P30,000 in monthly income per hectare, making it more profitable than rice, according to dela Cruz.

The commission also said that although policies are in place to address the impacts in areas historically vulnerable to the phenomenon, dela Cruz said their effectiveness depends on implementation.

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“We need a political will … it should not be government business as usual, it has to be a data-based, science-driven type of governance,” he said, appealing to local governments to coordinate and convene their municipal planning and development coordinators and other technical personnel to address the problems caused by El Niño. — Martina Nieyandra Calica/INQUIRER.net trainee /das