At least four employees of the local government unit (LGU) of Pili died while on duty. The Rural Health Unit (RHU) in Pili believes that the hot weather might have played a part in their deaths.

Hayde Bermudo Christy, the wife of one of the deceased, said that her husband was brought to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

“Pag-idlip niya ng kanti, maya-maya para siyang umubo—binuhat ko na siya, dinala namin [sa hospital], pagdating naming doon [sa hospital], [tiningnan] po ng doctor wala na po [siya na buhay],” said.

Christy said that her 59-year-old husband continued to work at the municipal hall of Pili but his coworkers noticed that he had appeared pale.

“Ayaw niya magpadala [sa hospital]... sabi niya uuwi aniya ako talaga, nagpumilit [nalang] siyang umuwi sa amin,” Christy said.

Apart from Christy’s husband, three other LGU Pili employees also passed away while on duty.

According to the LGU, the victims were job order employees between 40 to 50 years old assigned to the engineering, the public safety office, and market guard duties that made them vulnerable to the heat. 

The RHU has not ruled out the possibility that the heat contributed to the passing of the four employees, especially since they have had health problems.

“Actually, pinapa-kua ko ang death certificate kaini’yo, to check kung ano ang other details kan saindang kamugtakan na posibilidad na nag-contribute [na] sinda magadan,” Dr. Rafael Salles, Head of the Municipal Health Office of Pili, said.

The RHU recommended adjusting the working hours of employees exposed to the heat, which was supported by Mayor Tomas Bongalonta of Pili.

“Halimbawa yung traffic kung minsan baga mainit pa eh talagang ma-traffic na eh dapat nandyan sila—kaya lang sabi ko dapat mag-adjust kami halimbawa 1-hour ka lang dyan, papalitan ka na ulit,” Bongalonta said.