Bayanihan for Kapatagan Landslide

By: RIC CLET and MARIZ REVALES

 

 

            Kuta Sang-an, Pulacan, ZDS - Continuous heavy downpour wrought by Typhoon Juaning caused massive landslides Wednesday night in Brgy. Donggo-an, Kapatagan,  Lanao del Norte, closing traffic from Pagadian to Kapatagan while affecting residents from barangays  Balili, Lapinig, Concepcion and Donggo-an.

 

            Responding troops from the Army's 5^th Infantry Battalion under Cpt. Michael T. Demafelix were the first to arrive at the scene to assess the situation and assist the heavy equipment composed of a back-hoe, one loader, and six (6) dumptrucks from the local government unit of Kapatagan to start clearing the national high-way.  Their immediate concern is to rescue the rural transit bus and an Isuzu Elf that were trapped in the flow of mud and water.

 

            Meanwhile, the Army's 35^th Infantry Battalion immediately pronounced a travel advisory through text messages on the re-routing of traffic southwards to Tukuran and avoiding Aurora to alleviate traffic conditions going to Kapatagan and Pagadian. This was relayed to  Tabak Division Public Affairs Office and through the Philippine Information Agency – IX (PIA 9), broadcasted the travel advisory and ongoing relief operations. Military checkpoints were also put up to relay traffic advisories to motorist.

 

            Throughout the night and despite heavy rains, additional army troops from 35^th IB, 104^th Brigade, and 547^th Engineers worked hand-in-hand with LGU/ LGAs and civilian volunteers to make the road passable and assisted evacuees from Brgys. Balili and Concepcion.  A total of 67 households from Brgy. Balili and 21 households from Brgy, Concepcion were evacuated in subsequent the rescue operations.

 

"We have to make immediate response and rehabilitation work since this road-net is vital to traffic from Zamboanga to Cagayan de Oro and Davao" said Major Edgardo P. Amores, Officer in Charge of 5^th IB, who set-up a Tactical Command Post at Romarate, Aurora to monitor ongoing rescue operations even up to the wee hours of the following day.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, Commander of 1^st Infantry (TABAK) Division Brig. General Noel A. Coballes visited the landslide area early yesterday together with Col. Ricardo C. Visaya, Commander of 104^th Brigade, Col. Divino Rey C. Pabayo Jr., Division Operations Officer, and Lt. Col. Samuel L. Leria, Division Civil Military Operations Officer, and Lt. Col. Ferdinand S. Razalan, CO of 35^th Infantry Battalion, to assess the ongoing relief operations. Mayor Benjie Baguio of Kapatagan relayed the progress of the joint relief efforts to General Coballes.

 

As of 7am yesterday, normal traffic was resumed in Kapatagan through the combined efforts of stakeholders in response to this crisis event. Through the spirit of Bayanihan, ordinary Filipinos performing little deeds become heroes so that the plight of others may be alleviated.

 

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