MINDANAO, Philippines — The extreme heat gripping parts of Mindanao is forcing local governments and schools to take increasingly urgent measures as heat indices reach dangerous levels, with one area recording a 46°C heat index.
The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) reported on August 13 that several local government units (LGUs) and schools in the Caraga region had modified class schedules, suspended face-to-face classes or adopted alternative learning arrangements to protect students and school personnel from heat-related risks.
The situation has been particularly severe in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur, where PAGASA Caraga recorded a 46°C heat index on August 9 and 10.
In response, Acting Tandag City Mayor Maria Lourdes Kharin C. Momo issued Executive Order No. 11, series of 2026, directing public and private schools from kindergarten through high school to limit classes to 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. beginning August 11. Schools were also encouraged to use alternative teaching modalities after the shortened schedule.
The danger was not limited to Tandag.
More schools suspend face-to-face classes
In Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte, Mayor Judy Chin Amante ordered the suspension of face-to-face classes in all public schools beginning the afternoon of August 12 and urged private schools to consider similar measures.
Meanwhile, Bislig City in Surigao del Sur suspended face-to-face classes after the heat index reached 42°C. Local officials cited the risks of heat exhaustion, heat cramps, dehydration and heat stroke.
The measures expanded across other parts of Mindanao.
GMA Regional TV reported that numerous LGUs in Misamis Oriental suspended classes on August 13 and 14 after PAGASA forecasts placed the area under dangerous heat conditions. Cagayan de Oro also suspended classes in public preschools through high school for those dates, while private schools and higher education institutions were allowed to decide according to their own policies.
In Iligan City, kindergarten-to-Grade 12 classes in both public and private schools were suspended on August 13, with students continuing their lessons through alternative delivery modes such as modular, print-based or online learning.
New Bataan in Davao de Oro likewise suspended classes at all levels beginning August 13, with learning shifted to a blended setup.
Why a 46°C heat index is dangerous
It is important to distinguish heat index from actual air temperature.
A heat index measures how hot conditions feel to the human body by taking temperature and humidity into account. It does not mean that the air temperature itself reached 46°C.
PAGASA’s danger classification covers heat-index values from 42°C to 51°C. At these levels, heat cramps and heat exhaustion become likely, while heat stroke can occur with continued exposure or strenuous activity.
That distinction matters because even when the thermometer reading is considerably lower, high humidity can make outdoor conditions significantly more stressful for the body.
PAGASA warns the heat may persist
The concern is also not limited to a single day.
In a report published August 14, GMA Regional TV quoted PAGASA warning that the intense heat could continue in the coming weeks, with heat indices potentially reaching dangerous levels. The agency advised people to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, particularly during the hottest part of the day, remain hydrated and wear comfortable clothing.
Recent developments elsewhere in Mindanao underscore the warning.
MindaNews reported that Iligan City and Cagayan de Oro suspended classes as heat indices in Northern Mindanao were forecast at around 42°C to 43°C. The report noted that PAGASA’s 42°C-to-51°C range falls under its danger category.
Meanwhile, another report said more than 20 LGUs in Misamis Oriental announced class suspensions for August 13 and 14 amid a forecast heat index of 43°C at the Laguindingan Airport monitoring station.
What happens next?
For now, decisions on class suspensions and other protective measures remain dependent on local conditions, official PAGASA advisories and directives from LGUs and school authorities.
That is particularly important because there is currently no blanket nationwide rule automatically suspending classes whenever a particular heat-index threshold is reached.
However, the Department of Education has been working on a proposed framework that would establish standardized automatic suspension and resumption rules for hazards including extreme heat. GMA News reported that the proposal was still undergoing nationwide consultations and had not yet become a nationwide automatic-suspension policy.
Until such rules are formally adopted, parents, students and school personnel should continue to monitor announcements from their LGU, DepEd division and school administration rather than relying solely on social-media posts or unofficial advisories.
With heat indices already reaching 46°C in parts of Caraga, the message from authorities is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore: extreme heat is no longer simply a matter of discomfort—it is a public-health and education concern that can directly affect whether students can safely remain inside classrooms.
And if PAGASA’s warning that dangerous heat could continue in the coming weeks holds, more communities may soon face the same decision now confronting schools across Mindanao: keep classes running, or move students out of the heat before conditions become even more dangerous.
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