BY: VANESSA BUGTONG
The scorching weather continues to take a toll on residents of Pangasinan, with the heat index in Dagupan City hitting a record-high 47°C on Tuesday, April 29.
At midday, we caught up with student Hansly Ramirez, who was waiting for a ride.
Even before reaching school, she was already drenched in sweat.
“It gets really hot, especially for students like us. Without an electric fan, it’s unbearable,” Hansly said, frequently wiping her face and fanning herself. “It’s stressful. I sweat a lot and the heat during jeepney rides is intense.”
In the town of Manaoag, the extreme heat is also affecting livelihoods.
Candle vendor Jemarc Hortaleza shared how he and his fellow vendors are forced to go home at noon. “Sometimes, it’s too hot to bear. We lose sales, but we have no choice. We can’t stay out in the heat all day, we might faint,” he said.
For tricycle driver Reynaldo Gamboa, enduring the heat has become part of the job. “It’s really hot. We just endure it,” he said plainly.
According to the DOST-PAGASA Dagupan office, this heat index is part of a trend. “We’ve recorded several consecutive days with 46 to 47°C,” said Chief Meteorologist Engr. Jose P. Estrada Jr.
This level of heat falls under PAGASA’s “danger” category, which means it can cause heat cramps and heat exhaustion.
Prolonged exposure could lead to heat stroke, especially for children, the elderly, and people with health conditions.
Engr. Estrada explained that coastal cities like Dagupan are more vulnerable due to reflected heat from sand and seawater. “When the sand gets hot, it reflects heat inland, raising temperatures in nearby homes and communities,” he said.
PAGASA warns that higher temperatures may still be felt this week due to continued easterly winds from the Pacific Ocean.
Seventeen towns in the country are expected to experience heat index levels within the danger zone.
As of April 29, the Department of Health has recorded 77 heat-related illness cases nationwide, with seven deaths, mostly caused by heat stroke.
Residents are advised to stay hydrated, avoid outdoor activities during peak heat, and take extra precautions to prevent heat-related complications.
