ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro reiterated her call to the government to prioritize the construction of additional classrooms and the improvement of ventilation systems in schools.

This is amid the rising heat index that the country is experiencing.

Based on data from PAGASA, a heat index of 52°C and beyond is already considered extremely dangerous, which means that heat stroke is imminent.

Some of the symptoms of heat-related illnesses include heavy sweating, exhaustion, dizziness, blackout, weak but fast pulse, feeling of nausea, and vomiting, mostly as a result of prolonged exposure to heat, exhausting activities in warm weather, weak immune system, high humidity, obesity, chronic alcoholism, and even age for the elderly and infants.

Castro has earlier said that it is not fair for learners and teachers to suffer in unbearable conditions that directly affect their health, wellbeing, and academic performance.

“We cannot delay the provision of adequate infrastructure any longer. It is the responsibility of the government, particularly the DepEd, to prioritize the well-being and learning conditions of our students and teachers,” Castro said.

“Investing in the construction of more classrooms and improving ventilation systems is an investment in the future of our nation,” she stressed.

Based on a survey conducted by the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, 77 percent of instructors in Metro Manila said they cannot bear the heat experienced in schools.

Only 22.8 percent said that the heat they feel is moderate.