The Municipality of La Libertad is distributing a total of 320 electric fans to the classrooms in the town to mitigate the effect of the extreme heat conditions due to the El Niño phenomenon.
Mayor Emmanuel Iway announced the move after classes were suspended throughout Negros Oriental last week due to the high heat index.
Iway said the fans are hoped to provide a conducive learning environment despite the high heat indices.
Mayor Iway pledged his continued support for educational programs in his town by also providing school supplies every year to students from kindergarten to high school.
The heat not only suspended classes but also triggered fires in dry areas.
Supt. Noel Nelson Ababon, provincial fire marshal, said some 17 grass fires and a few structural fires were reported in Negros Oriental in the past week alone.
The Bureau of Fire Protection reiterated its appeal to the public to help prevent wildfires amid the extreme heat triggered by the El Niño.
Ababon assured they are doing their best to respond quickly to all fire callouts, especially during simultaneous incidents. Fire volunteers have been assisting them.
“We have limited resources that are stretched at times during simultaneous fire incidents but thankfully some local government units through their Disaster Risk-Reduction & -Management Office have fire volunteers and water tankers,” Ababon said.
He said he has instructed fire stations to beef up their campaign, especially against open burning due to the extreme heat, and embark on massive information dissemination.
Records at the BFP-Negros Oriental showed that starting April 1-8, a total of 27 fire incidents were recorded in the province, with 17 grass fires reported in Mabinay, Bais, Zamboanguita, Basay, Dauin, Bacong, and Bindoy, to name a few.
Other fire incidents included agricultural, residential, educational/school, and a motor vehicle.
Ababon said the extremely hot weather conditions have aggravated the fires. The cause of the grass fires has yet to be determined.
Still, it is usually attributed to reckless activities of individuals, such as the throwing of cigarette butts in dried-up areas, he added.
Meanwhile, Negros Oriental will host this year’s BFP Skills Olympics in this capital city on April 18.
Seven contingents will be participating in the event – the four Central Visayas provinces of Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, and three highly-urbanized cities, namely, Cebu City, Mandaue City, and Lapu-Lapu City.
Some barangays will also be competing in the event to showcase their skills, Ababon said. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)
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Photo Caption: The La Libertad Local Government Unit has announced that it will be providing electric fans for all schools in their town to beat the summer heat and make the classrooms conducive for learning. (Contributed photo)
