ILOILO City – With temperatures hitting a scorching 50°C in some areas early this year, Iloilo City is racing to draft its first Heat Action Plan with technical guidance from India, the first Asian country to successfully implement such a program.
City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Donna Magno said the city recently held a virtual exchange with Indian officials and experts who shared the successful model of Ahmedabad City, which has drastically reduced heat-related illnesses since 2012.
“They started in 2012. They started looking at the early warning system, training, and information education campaign. After five years, they were able to reduce their heat-related cases,” Magno said.
The session was joined by the director of India’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), along with its network agencies and non-government organizations, who outlined frameworks, financing mechanisms, and policy templates for Iloilo’s adoption.
Two of the speakers also have close ties to the city. Dr. Krishna Vatsa of NDMA once worked in Iloilo after Typhoon Yolanda, while Dr. Dileep Mavalankar, former director of the Indian Institute for Public Health, has family here.
Mavalankar presented Ahmedabad’s key strategies, including cooling centers in neighborhoods, hourly water bells in schools, early warning systems, and the adoption of cooling roofs.
“We are excited because of how they drastically reduced the effects, particularly on the health aspect,” Magno said.
Another meeting is scheduled this month to discuss civil society participation before submitting final recommendations to Mayor Raisa Treñas.
“Definitely, it will include the creation of a team that will look into the effects of this increasing heat on the city and the development of our heat action plan,” Magno added, saying a draft should be ready before next year’s summer season./PN
