By Chris V. Panganiban
Inquirer Mindanao
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — Parents in this town have raised concerns over children coping with extreme heat in classrooms as the municipality continues to struggle with a prolonged water shortage affecting more than 1,500 households.
The concerns emerged as heat-index forecasts in parts of Agusan del Sur reached dangerous levels. An AccuWeather forecast for Aug. 12 placed the heat index in nearby Butuan City at 42°C, while the provincial disaster risk reduction office forecast a maximum heat index of 43°C to 45°C in Agusan del Sur.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) classifies heat-index readings of 42°C to 51°C as “danger,” when heat cramps and heat exhaustion are possible and prolonged exposure may lead to heat stroke.
At San Francisco Pilot Central Elementary School with SPED Learning Center, officials responded by implementing a modified learning schedule beginning Aug. 12. Under School Memorandum No. 34, face-to-face classes are held from 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., after which learners shift to modular and other alternative learning activities.
The school instructed students and personnel to bring enough drinking water, keep classrooms well ventilated, avoid direct sunlight and limit strenuous activities. Parents were also urged to monitor their children for signs of heat-related illness and support learning-continuity measures.
Several parents said their children were already struggling with the heat. One parent reported that her child became dizzy at school and had to be brought home, while another said her Grade 9 child fell asleep after returning home because of the heat.
Some parents suggested shifting to modular or virtual classes to reduce children’s exposure to high temperatures. Others raised concerns over the availability of drinking water in classrooms, saying students should have adequate water for drinking and hygiene.
The concerns are especially serious because San Francisco has been experiencing a water shortage since early July. The San Francisco Water District reported 1,505 affected households as of July 31.
The shortage has disrupted daily life, with some residents staying awake at night to collect water whenever supplies become available. Others have reported difficulties with work, sanitation and other basic household needs.
Parents have also expressed concern that schools may face similar problems, particularly when children need sufficient water for drinking and washing during periods of extreme heat.
Mayor Grace Carmel Paredes-Bravo, however, said the municipal government could not yet issue a blanket suspension of classes because it had not received enough reports and assessments from schools.
As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, only four of the municipality’s 39 schools had submitted reports and assessments addressed to Schools Division Superintendent Josita Carmen Balbutin.
Paredes-Bravo said the municipal government had coordinated with Public School District Supervisor Estefa Balbutin and sought the advice of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. The MDRRMO said it could not yet recommend class suspension under the guidelines it was following.
The mayor cited Department of Education Order No. 14, Series of 2026, or the Guidelines on Learning Continuity in Emergencies. The policy recognizes extreme heat as an emergency that can threaten the safety and normal operation of schools and allows schools to adjust learning arrangements based on local conditions.
Paredes-Bravo also reminded parents that they do not necessarily have to wait for a formal suspension order before deciding whether their children should attend school when their physical or mental health is at risk.
The Department of Education has previously said extreme heat does not automatically require a nationwide suspension of classes. Schools may instead modify schedules, improve ventilation, provide hydration stations and use alternative delivery modes when heat poses health risks.
Water shortage
The heat concerns come as the local water district struggles with declining water sources caused by prolonged dry conditions.
SFWD general manager Elmer Luzon said water yields at the Mt. Magdiwata Watershed had fallen as rainfall declined sharply. Rainfall reportedly dropped from 7 millimeters in the first week of July to 3 mm in the second week and 2 mm in the third.
At a hearing Monday, the Sangguniang Bayan committee on public utilities discussed proposals to address the shortage, but no immediate solution emerged beyond continued water rationing.
Retired public works district engineer Mauro Bravo Jr. proposed building a large water impounding facility in the upper portion of Mt. Magdiwata to store water during rainy periods for use during prolonged dry spells.
Forester Raul Ragas Buñao of Green Collar Consulting Services called for expanded water storage, development of alternative sources in Lucac, Bitan-agan and Das-agan, and exploration of deep wells subject to scientific assessment and proper treatment.
Buñao warned that without adequate storage and alternative sources, worsening dry conditions could push the municipality toward what he described as “water bankruptcy,” when water supply can no longer keep pace with demand.
The SFWD is constructing a reservoir in Barangay Bitan-agan that Luzon said could add 20 liters per second to the system once completed by the end of September. The district is also considering a booster pump for Barangay Pisaan and has requested additional tanker support from the municipal government.
For parents, however, the most immediate concern remains keeping children safe in the heat while ensuring they have enough water to drink.
With water already scarce in many households, the extreme heat has transformed what was initially a supply problem into a broader concern involving hydration, sanitation and the safety of schoolchildren.
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