By Aerol John Pateña/Philippine News Agency

MANILA — The field personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will get a 30-minute “heat stroke break” beginning on Monday until May 31 to cope with the hot summer weather.
MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim has recently signed a memorandum implement re-implementing the “heat stroke break” policy to on-duty traffic enforcers and street sweepers to protect them from exhaustion, stroke, and cramps due to severe heat.
“Under the policy, on-duty field personnel are allowed to leave their posts in shifts and take a break to allow their bodies to cool down,” an MMDA statement read.
Based on the MMDA policy, traffic enforcers working from the 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. shift up until the 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. shift shall observe a 30-minute break.
Meanwhile, street sweepers who are on duty from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. until the 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. shifts shall also observe a 30-minute break time.
The break time must be done alternately by those who are assigned in a particular area to maintain visibility of traffic enforcers and street sweepers as well as ensure that field operations are not hampered.
Field personnel may also avail themselves of additional 15-minute break time in case the heat index in Metro Manila reaches 40 degrees Celsius and above.
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