Region 2 helps rescue operations in Mt. Province

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO, TMT
NOVEMBER 12, 2018

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan: Despite being directly hit by Typhoon “Rosita,” Cagayan Valley (Region 2) authorities sent rescue teams to conduct search and retrieval operations in Natonin town in Mountain Province.

The Cagayan Valley Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (Cvrdrrmc), though, confirmed zero casualties during Rosita and the Department of Agriculture (DA) said damage to crops reached P2.3 billion.

Natonin Mayor Mateo Chiyawa said 18 bodies, including that of one rescuer, were recovered while 11 remained missing on Friday when operations ceased at the landslide area.

The major damage was the landslide in Barangay Nacarang Banuel in Natonin where a four-story building of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was buried in mud.

The Cvrdrrmc said heavy rains during the onslaught of the typhoon and lack of equipment posed challenges to the rescue operations and prompted more institutions to respond immediately.

Responding to the urgent call from Mountain Province, Region 2 disaster management officials immediately sent rescue teams who were mobilized prior to Rosita’s landfall.

Rescue teams from the DPWH and other institutions conducted search and retrieval operations.

Mining firm OceanaGold based in Nueva Vizcaya also responded through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) in Region 2.

On Sunday, Mario Ancheta, MGB Region 2 director, said the OceanaGold rescue team was sent immediately to Natonin in coordination with the Of fice of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 2 and Cvrdrrmc.

They joined the retrieval team from the Army’s 54th and 77th Infantry Battalions, Army reservists, police and fire bureau personnel from Mountain Province, Kalinga and other parts of the Cordillera Administrative Region; Philippine Air Force; DPWH in Ifugao and Nueva Vizcaya; Disaster Risk Reduction Management Offices from Region 2, and private volunteers.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development confirmed that 7,849 houses were damaged by Rosita in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Eastern Visayas and Cordillera Administrative Region.