Flag ceremony held inside classrooms to escape heat

STARTING today, all public elementary and high schools in Cebu City can hold flag-raising ceremonies inside the classrooms to protect the students from the heat.

Dr. Rhea Mae Angtud, Department of Education (Deped) Cebu City Division Superintendent, issued the directive in response to a letter from Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak last Friday.

Tumulak told Cebu Daily News that several parents complained before his office that the flag ceremony, which is usually held at 7:30 a.m., exposes the grade school pupils to the heat.

In his letter, Tumulak cited the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Association (Pagasa) report that temperature at 7:30 a.m. is as high as 28.6 degrees Celsius. Cebu is among 12 areas in the country, where a dry spell or drought could intensify.

“So far, we have not received reports on children experiencing cough and colds due to the heat. As much as possible we want to prevent it that’s why we suggested adjustments,” Tumulak said.

In his letter, he also asked Dr. Angtud to adjust the flag raising ceremony to 7 a.m.

Angtud said holding the ceremony earlier would mean that the children would have to go to school earlier.

“I told the school principals to use their discretion. If they could not stand the heat, then they can conduct the flag ceremony inside the classroom like what they do when it rains,” she told CDN.

Based on Pagasa’s forecast, the El Niño phenomenon is expected to last until December this year. Cebu experiences temperatures ranging from 28 to 35.3 degrees Celsius, the hottest recorded in May.