Girl dies, 24 others injured in simultaneous stampedes

CEBU, Philippines - A four-year-old girl met her untimely death while 24 others were injured when panic resulted to stampede in the western town of Pinamungajan when the earthquake struck yesterday morning.

The incident happened when personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) were distributing cash incentives to recipients of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) at the sports complex.

Police identified the fatality as Shaisa Patiluna Mia, a resident of Barangay Tajao, Pinamungajan. She was declared dead on arrival at the Pinamungajan District Hospital. She died after she fell on the floor and after being stepped on by those who rushed out of the sports complex.

PO1 Ronilo Lawas told The FREEMAN the child was separated from her mother, Melodita Mia, 40, who also sustained injuries.

“Nabuwag gyud ni siya unya nayatak-yatakan,” Lawas said in a phone interview.

Those who were injured were identified as Shaina Mia, 6; Donata Ramos, 58; Jarmart Landero, 10; Lucila Guino, 39; Magdalina Guino, 38; Caridad Caneza, 63; Lusvimenda Manlan, 51; Pacita Barioga, 31; Sufronio Bruce, 43; Secaria Tania, 52; Evangelina Prejoles, 43; Marciano Ferolino, 35; Angel Canillas, 5; Jelmar Jentiloro, 7; Antonina Canillas, 41; Elsie Egay, 43; Jocelyn Claro, 40; Angel Lazarte, 6; Jane Ponting, one-month-old; Manalyo Tinpug, 39; Cristal Berdon, 10; Fely Tribunalo, 36; and Angel Quiño, nine-month-old.

They were rushed to the Pinamungajan District Hospital and to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

In Toledo City, 18 people were also injured during the same activity, which was being conducted simultaneously at the Barba Sports Center in Barangay Poblacion. 

Out of 18, six victims were referred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City due to injuries they incurred while others remained at the Toledo City Hospital.

Those referred to VSMMC as Feliciana Inayad, 65; Lyra Nacario, 19; Marky Villamor, 4; and Stephanie Tagulaylay, 7, all from Barangay Media Once. Also, Michael Gabisan, 10 of Barangay Poblacion and Analiza Degracia, of Barangay Cantabaco.

Chief Insp. Micheal Anthony Bastes, Toledo City police chief, clarified there was no casualty in the Toledo incident.

“Puro lang injured pero kadtong gidala sa Cebu City mao to ang medyo grabe tungod atong dinaganay sa mga tao nangaipit, nangabun-og ug nangatumba,” Bastes said in a phone interview.

DSWD Regional Director Mercidita Jabagat told The FREEMAN they are ready to assist the family of the casualty and those who were injured during the incident. She said they will give financial assistance to the victims.

“From the burial and to all expenses of the medication we will shoulder that as members are also enrolled to Philhealth,” Jabagat said in a phone interview.

Pinamungajan Mayor Glen Baricuatro said 4Ps recipients have been briefed not to bring children when claiming the cash assistance.

“Gi-briefing naman na sila nga dili magdala og mga bata, di man sad nimo mapugngan kay wa sad lahi mahabilin sa balay sa modawat sa 4Ps,” Baricuatro told The Freeman.

Provincial Board Member Grecilda Sanchez visited at least 16 of the injured persons at VSMMC.

The Integrated Provincial Health Office has set up an operation center at VSMMC to attend to the needs of the patients including those coming from other municipalities in the province.      

August last year, a stampede also marred the distribution of 4Ps in a gym in Barili town, also in the third district, leaving at least 13 people injured. The panic reportedly ensued when someone shouted that there was a bomb.

Under the management of DSWD, the 4Ps is widely known to be the lynchpin of the government’s anti-poverty efforts operating in 79 provinces covering 1,484 municipalities and 143 key cities in all 17 regions nationwide.

One of its key interventions is the provision of small cash transfers to mothers, as long as they commit to investing in their children, such as by ensuring their children go to school, as well as get deworming, vaccination and regular health check-ups to name a few other aspects of the program. – (FREEMAN)