A 46-year-old mother who was waiting in line to get cash aid from the Caloocan City government died after suffering from hypertension at the payout venue on Wednesday, July 1.
Josephine Magallanes was at a basketball court in Phase 10, Barangay Bagong Silang around 1 p.m. for the distribution of P1,000 financial assistance from the city government, when she approached barangay officials in the area to inform them about some people not lining up properly.
"May napansin po si mama na mali sa process ng pagbibigay ng ayuda. Yung pagsingit sa pila, nagalit po si mama. Lumapit po sya sa isa sa barangay purok leaders para maging aware sila na may ganoong pangyayari, tapos hindi man lang sya pinansin ," Magallanes’ eldest son, Jonel, 23, told Manila Bulletin Friday.
"Kaya nagalit po si mama... pagbalik nya sa upuan nya, doon na po sya inatake ," he explained.
Jonel said the incident and the afternoon heat triggered his mother's condition. But Jonel was disappointed at the response and alleged inaction of authorities in the area at that time.
"Wala po any rescue team at emergency team tapos may sundalo , wala man lang nagawa for the first aid sana. Tapos yung mga barangay officials, wala din pong nagawa ," he added. It was only after a neighbor who rushed to their home 10 minutes later that they were informed of his mother's situation.
Magallanes’ husband immediately rushed to the payment venue and rushed her to the hospital where she was declared dead on arrival.
This is not the first time that a resident died while waiting in line to get cash assistance from the government, after being affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
On May 1, an 84-year-old man died of heatstroke in Bacolod City after he collapsed while waiting for his turn to receive a Social Amelioration Program financial aid.
Jonel said no local official have reached out to help but the family is planning to seek financial help from the city government.