43°C heat alters voting behavior in many areas

HOW EXTREME HEAT is affects election day composite image from Inquirer files

SANTIAGO CITY, Philippines — While some voters have decided to wait until the swelter eases, others are taking advantage of the extreme heat to escape the long lines leading to election precincts.

Luisa Guzman, a resident of Alicia, Isabela went to Rizal, Elementary School as soon as she had her lunch since “walang masiyadong tao ngayon, walang pila kaya hindi na maghihintay (there are only a few people now, so there’s no need to wait in line).”

Based on data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, the heat index could hit 45 °C in Echague, Isabela on Monday, May 12.

It said 28 more areas are expected to hit the “danger” level.

GRAPHIC: Daniella Marie Agacer

A teacher at the Divisoria National High School in Santiago City said long lines started to ease as the heat sweltered past 10:30 am. “We expect more to come later once the heat recedes,” she pointed out.

Often, people would come past 3 pm, she said. “Hindi na kasi mainit masiyado(It’s no longer too hot, that’s why).”

The casting of votes will end at 7 pm.

For Melozar Dizon, principal of Santiago City North Central School, the extreme heat is really preventing people, especially the elderly, from coming before noon to before 3 pm.

“So we really expect the rest to come later,” he said, stressing that as of 12 noon, a little over 5,000 people out of 11,700 already cast their vote./tsb