Retrieval of ‘Reming’ victims called off

LEGASPI CITY — The Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) in Bicol ordered yesterday the termination of all search and retrieval operations for missing persons in the wake of landslides and rampaging floods spawned by typhoon "Reming."

It has been 15 days since these people were reported missing.

Bicol police director Chief Superintendent Victor Boco clarified that retrieval operations may continue on an "on-call" basis when persons searching for the missing can pinpoint the places where the missing were buried under the mudslides.

"Although we are now officially terminating the RDCC-spearheaded search and retrieval efforts, on-call basis retrieval might resume should there be requests from persons who could pinpoint the exact location of bodies to be dug up," Boco said.

Albay Provincial Disaster Management Office (PDMO) chief Cedric Daep said one reason for the termination of the search and retrieval operations is the risk of exposure to disease at the retrieval sites where decomposing bodies may already be breeding ground for deadly bacteria.

The latest Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) records here showed that at least 546 bodies were retrieved by the rescue teams: 197 from the town of Guinobatan, 148 from Daraga, 75 from Legaspi City, 29 from the town of Sto. Domingo, 15 from Rapu-Rapu, 13 from Tabaco City, 12 from Ligao City and the remainder of bodies were recovered from the towns of Malinao, Malilipot, Oas, Pioduran, Bacacay, Libon and Manito.

Now that the retrieval operations have been terminated, at least 658 more persons are considered dead. Some 243 of these missing persons now considered dead were recorded in Guinobatan, 210 in Daraga, 181 in Legaspi City, 13 in Camalig town and six in Sto. Domingo.

Families in Legaspi City that reported up to 20 members as either dead or missing included the Ballester family, with 20; the Echaluce family with 16; the Bermundos with 16; the Añonuevo family with 14; the Agarins with 12; the Santanders with seven; the Tolosa family with six and; the Sabelo, Portugal, Banda, Baltar, Balderama and Buensalida families with their missing and dead numbering between five and seven.

In Guinobatan town, the Llenaresa family reported the highest death toll of 11 of their kin. In Daraga, the Nuez family mourns 11 dead, while the identities of the persons missing in Guinobatan have yet to be established.

Meanwhile, relief efforts are aggressive in Albay, as the "saving and caring caravan" from Metro Manila and other parts of the country, as well as international relief organizations continued to distribute relief goods.

Much needed medicines and materials for constructing shelters for the homeless were brought by the caravan and the relief organizations’ workers.

The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and other volunteer engineering teams are helping to clear the Bicol region’s streets of debris scattered by Reming, as well as repair damaged infrastructure and restore electricity.

The Travesia bridge in Guinobatan remained closed to traffic until 3 p.m. yesterday.

Public Works and Highways regional director for Bicol Orlando Roces said the DPWH is exerting all effort and using all available means to make the bridge passable again.

According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), a total of 18,377 families displaced by Reming are still seeking refuge in evacuation centers.

DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral said the evacuation centers are located in the provinces of Laguna, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes and Sorsogon.

In Albay province, the identified resettlement sites are in Anislag, Daraga; Banquerohan, Legaspi City; and San Andres, Sto. Domingo.

Some 700 evacuation sites were set up for the typhoon victims but the number of evacuation camps now stands at 488 after many of the evacuees returned home or sought shelter at their relatives’ homes. — With Sheila Crisostomo