AN official of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reports that last Saturday was Cebu’s hottest day this year. 

Engr. Al Quiblat of Pagasa Mactan told Sun. Star Cebu that they were able to record a scorching 32.2 degrees Celcius last Saturday. 

He said the hot temperature could rise further as the country is entering the summer months of April and May. 

It could aggravate further with the El Nino still in the country, Quiblat said. 

Cebu experienced its hottest day on May 31, 2010, at 37 degrees Celcius.

Quiblat said El Niño also struck the country that time. 

In Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC), Capitol consultant on jail matters Marco Toral said the cells are hot and humid.

Detainee Alejandro Rosal, 29, a member of the jail’s dancing inmates, fainted while he was about to perform yesterday morning.

Recovered

Rosal, who is facing drug charges, recovered after he rested. He was possibly exhausted after the practices, said Toral.

His fellow CPDRC inmate died in Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), after he suffered a cardiac arrest last Saturday.

Toral said they allowed the detainees to stay in the quadrangle from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., to prevent them from falling ill.

For his part, Aguirre said they recorded 31.8 degrees Celsius last Jan. 12 and 31.6 degrees Celsius last February, based on the thermometer in Pag-asa’s office in Lapu-Lapu City.

Aguirre said the average maximum temperature every March is 31.0 degrees Celsius, adding that the temperature will keep on rising

when summertime approaches.

Quiblat advised the public to be vigilant against heat wave and prepare for the hot summer months ahead.

Aguirre said people should drink lots of fluids to avoid dehydration, use umbrellas to protect themselves from the direct heat and sunblock to protect the skin.

“After 9 a.m., it is already hot, stinging the skin. But the hottest temperature is near 2 p.m. or past 2 p.m.,” said Aguirre.

On the third or fourth week this month, he further said Pag-asa will possibly declare the start of summer.

The volume of rainwater is below the normal average every March and it will decrease until May, the hottest month of the year.