By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A passenger of a Bacolod-bound roll-on/roll-off ferry was hospitalized after falling ill due to the high temperatures in Bacolod City’s Bredco Port on Maundy Thursday, March 28.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel identified the passenger as Edmund Zamora, a resident of Negros Occidental’s Hinigaran town.

According to the Coast Guard Station-Northern Negros Occidental, they received a call from the ferry vessel M/V Maria Theresa, stating that Zamora complained of shortness of breath while he was en route to Bacolod from Dumangas port in Iloilo province.

Personnel from the PCG provided first aid to Zamora.

Upon their arrival at the Bredco Port, he was turned over to paramedics from the Bureau of Fire Protection, and was immediately transported to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital for medical attention.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said temperatures in Dumangas town hovered at 42 degrees Celsius on Thursday.

The Department of Health in Western Visayas earlier urged the public to take extra precautions and drink plenty of water to avoid any heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke./DGB, WDJ