A 40-year-old man reported died from apparent heart failure while awaiting state cash subsidy at the capitol gymnasium in Malolos, Bulacan.
Walfredo Ople Catajan, Jr. of Barangay Sto. Niño, Hagonoy, Bulacan was waiting on Saturday morning for his name to be called to receive ₱5,625 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) when he collapsed in his seat.
First aid responders quickly brought him to the nearby Bulacan Medical Center where he was given immediate medical attention, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and electrocardiogram (ECG), but was declared dead shortly thereafter..
Dr. Cris Carlo Pedrosa said Catajan’s cause of death was acute coronary syndrome which occurs when the heart muscle suddenly stops receiving blood.
Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando, Vice Gov. Alexis Castro and Rowena Joson Tiongson, head of the Bulacan Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), extended their condolences to the victim’s family.
“The unexpected incident pains us so much in the PSWDO and the whole of the provincial government of Bulacan. Our only intention in all the programs of the Provincial Government of Bulacan through the leadership of our Gov. Daniel Fernando is to bring immediate help and assistance to help ease the daily lives of our fellow Bulakenyos particularly the ones in need,” Tiongson said in a statement on Sunday.
She assured other beneficiaries of the emergency cash transfer program would continue and that the PSWDO would be implementing measures to prevent a similar incident.
