Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 29) — A resident of Occidental Mindoro who suffered from a lung condition died just a week after he was interviewed by CNN Philippines last April 22 regarding the 20-hour long power outages that afflict the province.
Marcos Escarez was a resident who needed to regularly use a nebulizer because of his condition.
“Sobrang init talaga na ‘di ka makatulog. Halos magdamag nga. Tapos paggising mo sa umaga, hilong-hilo ka,” Escarez said in his interview with CNN Philippines on the difficulties he faced amid the power crisis.
[Translation: It’s so hot that you can’t sleep. It lasts all night. When you wake up in the morning, you’re nauseated.]
His sister, Rhodora Erodias, said in a video her brother could not use his nebulizer because of the power outages.
The video shows Escarez sleeping outside of their home because of the heat. His family can’t afford to have him admitted to a hospital.
“Ayan ang kanyang nebulizer. Hindi nya magamit dahil walang kuryente. Buong magdamag na walang kuryente…Ilan pa ang kagaya ng kapatid ko?” Erodias said.
[Translation: That’s his nebulizer. He can’t use it without electricity. All night there’s no electricity…How many more are like my brother?]
He died on the morning of April 28 (Friday). “Sa madaling araw po, okay pa naman siya. Kaya lang mga bandang 4 a.m. nagdaing na siya na nahihilo daw,” Erodias said.
[Translation: In the early morning, he was okay. But at around 4 a.m., he started feeling dizzy.]
Occidental Mindoro has been under a state of calamity since April 20 due to daily power interruptions that last for 16 to 20 hours.
Governor Eduardo Gadiano called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his administration to intervene. Marcos, in his 2022 presidential campaign, vowed to address the province’s power crisis.
READ: Occidental Mindoro appeals for gov’t, Marcos action to end power crisis
The National Electrification Administration (NEA) earlier said it would subsidize part of the province’s power requirement by April 29, though this will only add three hours to the residents’ daily power supply of four hours.
Even though electricity has returned to Occidental Mindoro, it is not yet stable.
The local government has accused the Occidental Mindoro Consolidated Power Corporation, the province’s sole power supplier, of abusing its monopoly to leverage subsidies from the national government.
READ: Electricity back in Occidental Mindoro but vice governor questions power monopoly
CNN Philippines correspondent Daniza Fernandez contributed to this report.
