MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Friday warned riders against biking in hot weather following the death of a rider who collapsed while traversing Edsa in Makati City during the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
“Heat factors should be considered kapag nag-active transportation tayo aside from biking, yung scooter or walking. (Dapat) yung kalusagan natin kailangan alamin nang husto,” MMDA special traffic and transport zone chief Bong Nebrija said over dzBB when asked about a biker who collapsed in Edsa.
(Heat factors should be considered if we are on active transportation aside from biking, scooter, or walking, our health status needs to be evaluated.)
“Hindi biro yung init na nararanasan natin, at yung kawalan ng transportation ngayon kanya-kanya yung diskarte ngayon,” he added.
(This heat is no joke and this suspension of transportation, we have to make our own strategy.)
Image from the Facebook page of MMDA Traffic Operations Operations chief Bong Nebrija
Nebrija further pointed out that the biker who expired on Edsa turned out to be a former MMDA worker.
He collapsed while traversing Magallanes Southbound in Makati, then was pronounced dead at the Makati Medical Center.
“Nadala naman siya sa ospital. Nung nagpunta ako sa hospital kung DOA (dead on arrival) talaga. I need to confirm to the hospital at kung ano talaga nangyari at yun nga kinonfirm talaga nila,” he said.
(We brought him to the hospital. I went there to see if he was already DOA. I need to confirm to the hospital on what really happened which turned out it was true that the patient was already DOA.)
Nebrija said the biker must have died of fatigue due to the heat. He also noted that the biker might also have had a preexisting condition while traversing that have aggravated the situation.
Metro Manila is still under MECQ until May 31 which prohibits public transportation to prevent COVID-19 transmission.