Go extends assistance to Tullahan river victims

MANILA, Philippines — After visiting the victims of Typhoon Ompong in Benguet and Isabela, Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go yesterday extended assistance to the families of the three children who drowned in the Tullahan River in Valenzuela City.

The fatalities – identified as Rheniel Tejadilla, 13, Kerby Tejadilla, 10, and Jillian Salud, 10 – were swept away by the strong current of the Tullahan river while playing on its banks at the height of the typhoon.

Another playmate, Joshua Nel Casing, 11, was rescued.

“To the two families of the victims, I told them that the government has housing programs. Aside from that, we will also give some cash assistance. President Duterte extends his sympathy to the bereaved families,” he said.

He said the government will also shoulder the burial expenses of the children in a private cemetery.

Valenzuela City Mayor Rexlon Gatchalian had earlier provided burial assistance worth P30,000 for each victim.

During Go’s visit to the wake, a concerned resident of Valenzuela addressed the issue of the possible negligence of construction workers in charge of the repair of the bridge.

Go said that he will communicate with the officials of Department of Public Works and Highways and will investigate whether the workers are liable.

Assistance

Pledges of cash and logistics support from international and local communities are pouring in for victims of the typhoon, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) said yesterday.

According to PRC chairman Richard Gordon, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) launched an emergency appeal seeking 2.7 million Swiss francs (approximately P152 million) to assist 100,000 individuals from the most affected communities in the next 12 months.