Naga now focuses on rehab: Retrieval ends

CEBU, Philippines — Authorities have terminated the retrieval operations in Naga City, Cebu where massive landslides killed at least 78 people on September 20, 2018.

Efforts will now focus on rehabilitation.

Naga Councilor Carmelito Cruz, Jr. said an estimated P400 million, at the very least, will be needed to relocate the 400 families affected by the landslide and to help them rebuild their lives.

Cruz is the head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) and the chief of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC)

“We are in the process of conducting a Post Disaster Needs Assessment with the guidance of Cebu Province (provincial government) and the (regional) Office of Civil Defense. The inputs during the PDNA will form part of the Recovery and Rehabilitation Plan,” he told The FREEMAN.

The city is eyeing a portion of the province-owned Balili property as a relocation site. The province has donated that portion of the property to Naga purposely as relocation of the landslide survivors.

At this time, the city has P55 million local funds. This does not include the P10 million it received as donations.

Cruz said the national government will also give P175 million for rehabilitation efforts through the National Housing Authority.

Aside from relocating the survivors, the city would also need to divert a portion of the Pangdan River, which was blocked by the landslide, to avoid flooding in the event of a downpour.

The project, which will be undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways, is estimated to cost P150 million.

It was on October 6 when the incident management team headed by Naga Mayor Kristine Chiong terminated the search and retrieval operations.

Chiong said earlier that the city plans to put a memorial marker at the landslide sites in remembrance of those who perished in the tragic incident.

Until yesterday, five people remain unaccounted for.

In a statement, the city government said that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, through its attached agency, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, will implement a Hazard Reduction Program in coordination with Apo Land and Quarry Corporation (ALQC).

Residents have blamed ALQC for what happened.

“There is a commitment that if and when there will be human remains that may be recovered during the implementation of the program, these remains should be turned over to the city government and the family of the victims,” the statement reads.

PB move

Meanwhile, the Provincial Board has invited officials of government agencies to its session today as it begins its own investigation into the Naga landslides.

Invited to appear are Baltazar Tribunalo Jr., head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO); Jayson Lozano, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO); Engr. Efren Carido OIC Regional Director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) 7; Tuburan Mayor Democrito Diamante, president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Cebu Chapter; Consolacion Mayor Teresa Alegado, LMP vice president for internal affairs; Dalaguete Mayor Ronald Allan Cesante, LMP VP external affairs; San Fernando Mayor Lakambini Reluya, LMP secretary; San Remigio Mayor Mariano Martinez, LMP treasurer; Cordova Mayor Mary Therese Cho, LMP auditor; Dumanjug Mayor Efren Guntrano Gica, LMP PRO; and Medellin Mayor Joven Mondigo Jr. LMP legal counsel.

“In the interest of the general public, it is fitting and proper that the above-named agencies and offices shall enlighten the issues surrounding the tragic incident for any warranting actions or measures that may be implemented or undertaken to prevent the occurrence of similar incident in the future,” read the resolution sponsored by Vice Governor Agnes Magpale and Board Members Raul Bacaltos, Yolanda Daan, and Thadeo Jovito Ouano.

Daan represents the First District, which Naga City is a part of.

Ouano is the chairperson of the Board’s Committee on Environmental Conservation and Natural Resources. (FREEMAN)