Social welfare program exec rescued at Mt. Apo

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Mountaineers rescued Tuesday the program manager of a social welfare program owned by ABS-CBN Foundation who suffered severe dehydration after trekking the country's highest peak.

Marlon Ceballos, head of the Kidapawan City-based 505 Disaster Rescuers for Emergencies, Assistance and Management, identified the victim as Ella Tan, 36, program manager of Bantay Bata 163.

Tan, together with her husband and five-year-old son, climbed Mt. Apo, using the trail in Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur, on April 16.

They were registered as domestic tourists at the Santa Cruz Tourism Office and were provided three porters.

When they arrived at the camping site below the peak, Ceballos said Tan, who is from Davao City, suffered fatigue and exhaustion. She started to vomit, which resulted in severe dehydration.

It was also learned that Tan also suffered from an ulcer attack while up in the mountain.

Her husband decided to set up camp at the peak for two nights so his wife could recover. The weather, however, worsened her situation.

Tan's husband decided to request members of the Tribung Mindanao Climbers (TMC) to assist them to transfer the patient using the trail leading to the Energy Development Corporation in Barangay Ilomavis here.

Ceballos said the TMC and the porters used improvised stretcher to carry the patient during their descent. They used the Ma-ag trail.

Ceballos' group and another volunteer rescue group, Santa Cruz Active Volunteers for Emergency Response, backed up the rescue team.

They were able to bring Tan safely around 11 a.m. Tuesday to the EDC compound.

After checking her vital signs and provided with intravenous fluids, the victim was transported to this city. She was later brought to a hospital in Davao City. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)