LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Following the latest report that 42 people are missing due to Typhoon Ompong, Malacañang on Monday assured that the government will not stop until this number is accounted for. In a press briefing held here Monday, September 17, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. conveyed the Palace’s deep sympathies to the affected areas and to the lives perished after the typhoon and vowed that the government will do its best to rehabilitate those areas.
“Kami po ay nagdadalamhati sa hindi maiiwasang bilang ng mga nasawi dahil sa pagsalanta ng Bagyong Ompong, lalo na rito sa Benguet,” he added. Citing a report by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Roque said that at least 147,540 families or 591,762 individuals in 2,738 barangays, 433 cities and municipalities, and 31 provinces in the Regions I, II, III, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, NCR and CAR, were affected.
Secretary Roque likewise mentioned the death toll in the Cordillera Administrative Region which already reached 54. Forty nine are missing and 33 got injured. For the 54 number of dead people, Roque said, 34 came from Itogon; Baguio City, nine; Mountain Province, six; La Trinidad, three; Kalinga and Benguet (Tuba), one each. For the missing, Itogon had 42; Baguio City had five; Benguet (Kabayan) and Tuba, one each. For the injured, Benguet had 17; Ifugao, five; Mountain Province, four; Kalinga, three; and Apayao and Baguio City, two each.
“Patuloy po ang search and rescue efforts lalong-lalo na po dito sa Itogon kung saan meron nga pong recorded missing na 42 pa. Hindi po tayo titigil hanggang hindi po natin naa-account ang lahat pong nawawala,” Roque assured. Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde, who was supposed to join the press briefing, went directly to the search and rescue site in Itogon to supervise the activities of the Special Action Forces (SAF) for the rescue operation, according to the Palace official.
“Sinabi niya [Albayalde] po sa akin na ‘yung equipment po ng SAF para po makatulong doon sa retrieval, advanced equipment daw to that can detect even heartbeat, have been deployed to Itogon and are currently being used,” Secretary Roque added. Joined by national and local government officials including Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda, Itogon Mayor Vic Palangda and Provincial Governor Crescencio Pacalso, among others, the Palace spokesperson gave updates on the government’s response to the said Typhoon. Roque likewise mentioned the assistance already given by both government and non-government agencies, which already totaled to P28,976,636.40, to the typhoon victims.
“Nagpapasalamat kami sa lahat sa patuloy na pagbibigay ng tulong sa ating mga kababayan. Patuloy rin po ang pakikipag-ugnayan ng mga ahensya ng goberyno upang tugunan ang pangangailangan ng mga apektadong residente at siguraduhin ang kaligtasan ng lahat,” Roque added. ‘Cease and desist order to all small-scale mining operations’ During the same press briefing, Environment Secretary Cimatu announced the immediate halting of all small-scale mining operations, including the 10 operators given temporary permits, following the death and entrapment of miners due to landslides caused by Ompong.
“I officially order cease and desist of all illegal small scale mining operations in the whole of Cordillera Administrative Region. By virtue of what happened, I am revoking those permits, effective today,” he said. Secretary Cimatu then asked the small scale miners to cooperate and stop all small scale mining activities in the said town. “The Department of Environment and Natural Resources will be sending men from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to effect mandatory relocation of all individuals in the areas classified as geohazards and to prevent further loss of lives,” he added. (PCO-Content)
