10/09/2025
𝗦𝗖𝗜-𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗛 | 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴? 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗦𝗶𝘇𝘇𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴
Iligan’s sweltering heat has become a daily struggle for IITians and Iliganons alike—fans whirring against each other in a battle to bring relief, umbrellas blossoming in every color, and tumblers swaying at the sides like loyal companions. Why do we feel the heat so intensely in Iligan?
The answer goes beyond solar radiation but also lies in the city’s unique topography, atmospheric conditions, and the way our bodies react to heat and humidity.
𝗜𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝘆
The city is situated in a low-lying coastal area, which means it is directly exposed to the sun’s rays throughout the day. Because of its flat terrain, the ground absorbs and stores more heat. This causes the air in direct contact with the heated ground to warm up significantly, accumulating and intensifying as the day goes on.
Moreover, soil, concrete, and especially asphalt increase the surface’s absorptivity during the day. At night, the warmer ground releases thermal energy into the air, which contributes to the elevated temperatures we feel even after sunset.
This is part of what climatologists call the urban heat island effect—urbanized areas, with fewer trees and more buildings, remain hotter than surrounding rural zones. A study by UP-SURP (2022) showed that Philippine mid-sized cities like Iligan can be up to 3°C warmer at night in urban centers compared to nearby rural districts.
The surrounding mountains further intensify this effect by acting like barriers that trap the hot, moist air over the city—a phenomenon known as air stagnation due to orographic barriers (Barry & Chorley, 2010). Instead of allowing breezes to sweep the heat away, the mountains confine it, creating a sweltering, suffocating environment that Iliganons endure almost daily.
𝗔𝘁𝗺𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
In April 2025, Iligan’s midday temperatures often climbed to 32°C, one of the city’s hottest months of the year. Even in January—the so-called “cool” season—daily averages still hovered around 25°C (Climate-Data, 2025).
This means that Iligan never really gets a break from the warmth. But what makes Iligan feel different from other hot Philippine cities is not just the raw temperature but the heat index—the “feels like” measure that combines temperature and humidity. At 32°C with humidity reaching 85%, Iligan’s heat index can spike to over 42°C.
This is why residents often describe the weather as "𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒖𝒐𝒕", the stifling, sticky heat that makes even moderate warmth feel unbearable.
Compared to upland Marawi City, where cooler winds keep the average heat index closer to 32°C, Iligan’s low-lying coastal position makes it feel hotter and heavier, especially when humidity surges past 85%.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆’𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁
Sweating is our body’s natural cooling system. As body temperature rises, sensory nerves send signals to the brain, which then activates different cooling mechanisms. These include sweating and directing more blood from the core organs to the skin through vasodilation, the widening of blood vessels near the surface.
The ev***ration of sweat lowers the skin’s temperature, while the increased blood circulation to the skin helps release the heat produced by the muscles into the surrounding air, leaving us feeling cool and refreshed. This process is regulated by the hypothalamus, which acts as the body’s thermostat, constantly monitoring internal and external stimuli and making adjustments to keep our temperature within one or two degrees of 37°C.
However, staying under blazing heat for an extended period means that our body continuously absorbs thermal radiation from the sun, building up the amount of heat it needs to dissipate.
In hot and humid conditions, the air might already be filled with water v***r, which means it can no longer absorb the sweat ev***rating from our bodies, reducing the body’s ability to cool itself.
When heat gain outbalances heat loss, our body temperature begins to rise. If this regulation fails, it can lead to heat exhaustion or even heat stroke—a medical emergency marked by dizziness, rapid pulse, confusion, and, in severe cases, loss of consciousness. The Department of Health reported more than 800 heat-related illnesses nationwide in 2024, and with 2025 shaping up to be just as hot, risks remain alarmingly high.
𝗖𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁
The World Health Organization (WHO) advises the public to avoid going outside and performing strenuous activities at peak hours, wear light clothing, and drink one cup of water per hour. To maximize the cooling effect of electric fans, use them when the temperature is below 40°C; beyond that, fans may just push hot air onto the body. When using air conditioning, set the thermostat to 27°C and turn on an electric fan—this can make the room feel 4°C cooler while saving up to 70% on your electricity bill.
Local adaptation practices also speak volumes. Jeepney drivers often drape wet towels around their necks to survive midday trips. Vendors in the poblacion keep spray bottles handy to mist themselves during long afternoons. And for IITians, a mini-fan or a pamaypay is a must.
𝗛𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲
In a city that feels like it is always cooking, the challenge is not just about comfort but about health and sustainability. Knowing the posing risks, there’s a need not just for personal adaptation but also collective planning, especially from the government. More trees in urban spaces, better ventilation in public transport, climate-sensitive building designs, and stronger public awareness campaigns are not luxuries but necessities.
Globally, the Philippines has already warmed by about 0.7°C since the 1950s, and local climate projections suggest even hotter days in coming decades.
As Iligan continues to grow, the question is not whether it will get hotter—it will. But whether the city can adapt fast enough to keep its people safe, healthy, and resilient in the face of a sizzling future.
Written by Faith Ybbone Calunod
Proofread by Ed Vergil Garbo
Graphics by Josh Rainer Pamaong
