Palace condoles with kin of Mountain Province landslide

Malacañang on Wednesday condoled with families of the victims who died from a landslide that buried the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) building in Natonin, Mountain Province.

“The Palace wishes to express its deep condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims who perished in Natonin, Mountain Province, when the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) building was covered by a landslide, along with others who died due to the typhoon,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

Panelo said “efforts to look for survivors are currently ongoing and we pray for the rescue of those still trapped or missing.”

He said President Rodrigo Dutere was closely monitoring the situation of areas affected by typhoon “Rosita” (international name: Yutu), which hit Northern Luzon since Tuesday morning.

“[Duterte] is on top of the situation, and he, together with the rest of the members of Cabinet, will visit the affected areas to assess the situation,” Panelo said.

The public, he said, could “count on the government that it will undertake all necessary actions and not take a load off, if need be, during this time of adversity.”

Citing data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Panelo said the typhoon affected a total of 11,878 families, or 38,398 persons, in 478 barangays in Regions I, II, III, and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). 

He added that a total of 8,864 families, or 32,519 persons were pre-emptively evacuated in the said regions. 

The NDRRMC, he said, reported that a total of 10 incidents, which include landslide and flooding, were reported in Regions II and CAR.

The government, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) together with the local government units (LGUs), has already provided a total of P834,304.90 worth of assistance, he added.

“The President has directed all government agencies to immediately respond and undertake measures to help the victims and families and to rehabilitate the typhoon ravaged areas, including the clearing and repairing of roads that have become inaccessible or impassable,” Panelo said. /kga