BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) is pushing for the establishment of free and accessible public hydration stations in government offices and public facilities across the city to protect residents from heat-related illnesses.
The initiative, contained in a resolution recently approved by the city council, was authored by Councilor Em Ang, chairperson of the SP Committee on Health and Sanitation.
The resolution cited rising heat indices in Negros Occidental, which have reached 40 degrees Celsius and fall under the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (PAGASA) extreme caution category.
Ang noted that thousands of residents transact daily at government offices, exposing them to high temperatures while commuting and waiting in queues.
Prolonged exposure to extreme heat can cause heat cramps and heat exhaustion, while continued physical activity under such conditions may lead to potentially fatal heat stroke.
She said providing free and clean drinking water in government building lobbies and waiting areas is a practical public health measure to protect residents amid rising temperatures.
The proposed hydration stations will be made accessible to the public in government offices and facilities across the city, including the Bacolod City Government Center.
The measure seeks to ensure that residents have access to drinking water while conducting transactions and using public facilities, particularly during periods of extreme heat./PN
