MASSIVE INFO DRIVE ON ILL-EFFECTS OF SOARING TEMPERATURES PRESSED

VICE presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr. today virtually took a brief respite from talking "strictly politics" and called on the government to launch a massive information drive on how to cope with the extreme heat the country is currently experiencing.

Marcos made the call as the temperature reached dangerous levels evidenced by the heat index, recorded by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), in Cabanatuan City reaching 52.3 degrees Celsius at 2 p.m. Tuesday, higher than the 51 degrees recorded on Monday.

In a statement, Marcos suggested to the Department of Health to propagate at the community level measures and actions that will prevent heat stroke and other health risks.

"I think it's wise to go directly to the people and orient and update them about the problem as well as teach them preventive ways. Especially in communities where you usually see children playing under the sun, they need to be warned," he said.

It is said that a heat index between 41 to 54 degrees is already considered dangerous and may cause cramps, exhaustion and even heat stroke.

He said the DOH should tap barangay health workers to handle the information dissemination because they are the ones who are familiar and known to the communities.

He also said health workers and barangay personnel should also be trained first aid treatment in order to competently attend to heat stroke victims.

"It seems that this weather aberration will be with us for a long time. Kaya dapat handa tayo at marunong tayo na alalayan ang ating mga kababayan na maaaring magkasakit dahil sa sobrang init," he said.