BAGUIO CITY – From responders and volunteers rushing to save lives to netizens appealing for donations, the Cordilleran tradition of mutual aid and communal cooperation called, “Binnadang,” was in full display amid the harsh beating from rains brought by the southwest monsoon.
“We are glad there were many hands that helped find the bodies. Many hands that help in the wake of the two victims,” said Atok, Benguet Mayor Franklin Smith in a media interview on Tuesday.
Atok is one of the areas in the Cordillera Administrative Region battered by heavy monsoon rains.
The two fatalities were among three people buried at a household when a portion of a mountain in Atok collapsed. Only one was pulled out alive, and currently being treated at the hospital.
Smith said another landslide victim died after getting buried beneath his collapsed house at Barangay Topdac.
“The residents in Topdac did their share in preparing their neighbor. We will be going there later to see to it the burden of the relatives is eased,” Smith said.
In Baguio City, Mayor Benjamin Magalong said rescue and retrieval operations are not easy but government personnel and rescuers are all doing their part.
“Mahirap, delikado. Pagod at puyat ang kaharap ng mga rescuers natin pero patuloy sila sa paghuhukay. Pagkatapos na pagkatapos ng insidente, mabilisan ang galawan dahil hinabahol na ma-save na buhay ang mga nasa loob ng bahay kaya kahit malakas ang ulan, naghalo ang pawis at lamig pero hindi nag-give up ang rescuers (It’s difficult and dangerous. Our rescuers were facing fatigue and lack of sleep, but they continued digging. Immediately after the incident when they rushed to save the lives of those trapped in the house. There was a mix of sweat and cold, but they did not give up),” Magalong said in a media interview.
He said at least 150 rescuers were alternating in digging, scouring the area for possible signs of life. After two days of continuous rescue and retrieval, 13 victims were pulled out of the rubble, three of them were fortunately alive.
“Over the past two days, our rescue teams, responders, volunteers and partner agencies have worked continuously under very difficult conditions. Our personnel assisting evacuees and affected families have likewise remained on the ground, doing what needs to be done. My snappiest salute goes to all of you,” Magalong said in a post on Tuesday.
Aside from ensuring the rescue and retrieval continue, families who were pre-emptively evacuated also needed to be attended to, Magalong said.
“There are supplies provided by the city and the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), donors as well as psychosocial support providers,” he added.
He said authorities are also helping address mental health concerns of those affected, ensuring the pain of the internally displaced people does not get aggravated.
In Barangay Guisad Surong in Baguio City, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Cordillera visited an evacuation center to check on evacuees, a gesture to lighten the situation of the internally displaced individuals due to the heavy rains.
Even in the digital space, Binnadang was also evident as netizens started calling for donations and prayers for the victims.
And on the 10th day of continuous heavy rains in Baguio and Benguet, officials are repeatedly calling on the public to remain vigilant and check their surroundings for possible signs of risks of landslides.
Magalong said, “We have reached the saturation level of our soils that is why we are experiencing a lot of landslides. We must be conscious of our surroundings and evacuate if needed or call 911 for assessment or assistance.”
Baguio’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office records showed there were 40 landslide incidents and six eroded ripraps recorded in the city as of posting time, while six houses have been totally damaged and 30 partially damaged.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Baguio recorded the highest rainfall at 1,413 millimeters from Aug. 1 to 9 with the whole month of August’s average rainfall being 963 millimeters.
Smith on the other hand said they saw landslides happening in areas which did not show any signs of risks in the past.
Smith observed that areas in their locality once thought to be safe from landslides are now no longer spared
“The area of the landslide that killed two persons and injured one does not usually have landslides. We grew up in those areas, and they used to be safe. Landslides occurred in areas where they are least expected,” he said. **Liza Agoot
