The Antique provincial government will provide 3,000 tumblers to learners, especially Kindergarten and Grade 1, in the province as part of its “Tubig Time (water time)” strategy to encourage hydration amid the extreme heat.

The provincial government will launch Tubig Time in a ceremony at the Assemblyman Segundo Moscoso Memorial School in San Jose de Buenavista on April 24, where 678 learners will receive tumblers.

“We are encouraging the learners to stay hydrated through the program launching,” said Governor Rhodora Cadiao in an interview on Monday.

Cadiao said the distribution of tumblers will motivate other parents to provide one for their children to bring during their face-to-face classes.

During the class hour, the teacher will call for a break time for learners to drink water.

The governor added that schools have the discretion whether they proceed with face-to-face classes or alternative delivery mode (ADM) depending on the situation in their schools.

“The heat index that reaches up to 43 degrees Celsius is really dangerous for the learners, so as governor, I will just abide by the decision of the DepEd and the school heads,” Cadiao said, referring to the heat index recorded in the province on April 1.

Public schools under the Division of Antique shifted to ADM or asynchronous classes on April 15-16, following a memorandum of the central office of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Meanwhile, DepEd Schools Division of Antique Superintendent Dr. Nicasio Frio and other members of the provincial school board met Monday to prepare for the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) Meet hosted by Negros Occidental on May 2-7, 2024.

“We will send a strong athletic delegation to the WVRAA,” Cadiao said.

The Antique provincial government has allocated PHP16.09 million for the more or less 555 athletes and coaches to the regional sports meet. (PNA)