The Department of Education is taking precautions to protect athletes from heat exhaustion at the ongoing Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) meet in Antique.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration warned that the Heat Index Forecast showed that some areas in the Western Visayas were experiencing extreme heat on Tuesday, March 4.
The Heat Index, sometimes referred to as the apparent temperature, is a measure of how hot it really feels when relative humidity is factored with the actual air temperature.
The DepEd has cancelled the holding of outdoor games from 10 a.m.to 2 p.m. at the WVRRA to protect athletes, whose health is their utmost priority, from the intense midday heat, Hernani Escullar, DepEd 6 spokesperson, said on Tuesday.
“It is very hot here”, he said, of the weather in Antique.
He said if extreme heat is felt at other times of the day, they will also delay games to protect the athletes.
They have medical officers on standby at the games, and 24/7 police security, Escullar said.
The WVRRA medal tally as of 5:24 p.m. Tuesday for golds in the secondary level showed Negros Occidental with 30, Iloilo – 28, Aklan -13, Capiz – 4 and Antique -1.
The medal tally for golds in the elementary level showed Negros Occidental with 24, Iloilo – 22, Capiz -4, Antique – 1 and Guimaras -1.*