THE PHILIPPINE weather bureau on Wednesday announced the start of the dry season with the termination of the northeast monsoon (amihan) over most parts of the country.
“The shift of wind direction from northeasterly to easterly due to the establishment of the high-pressure area (HPA) over the Northwestern Pacific signifies the termination of the Northeast Monsoon over most parts of the country and the start of the dry season,” the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in a statement.
It said the weather across the country will “gradually” become warmer each day, though isolated thunderstorms are still expected.
It also said the extreme Northern Luzon may still experience occasional northeasterly winds.
The heat index in some parts of the country, particularly Tarlac and Pangasinan provinces north of the capital Manila, has hit 46°C-47°C.
Temperatures would likely rise further toward the end of April and May.
In a separate statement, the Federation of Free Workers said as the termination of the northeasterly monsoon ushers in rising temperatures, the risks of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke among workers also increase.
The group urged employers to take immediate and preventive measures to safeguard the health and safety of their workers amid extreme heat conditions.
“We call on all employers to ensure that workers, especially those in outdoor and high-temperature environments, are protected from heat-related hazards.” — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza
