Authorities stop search and retrieval operations

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines  – Search and retrieval operations in the earthquake-hit areas of Negros Oriental were already stopped, and authorities declared the landslide sites mass graves for 61 deemed missing victims.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of Negros Oriental reported that the number of earthquake deaths has reached 48, and 23 of these were in Guihulngan City, nine in La Libertad town, eight in Jimalalud, three in Tayasan, two each in Ayungon and Manjuyod, and one in Bindoy. 

The earthquake also destroyed government infrastructures estimated at P700 million based on the partial report submitted by Provincial Engineer Franco Alpuerto.

Governor Roel Degamo told The FREEMAN the operations in the landslide site in Barangay Planas, Guihulngan City were halted last Wednesday, and those in Brgy. Solongon of La Libertad town was stopped Thursday.

Search and retrieval teams of the Metro Manila Development Authority and the Oriental Negros Rescue already left the sites, and only soldiers of the Philippine Army were left on standby at La Libertad, said Degamo.

Degamo said he recommended to the local officials to stop the search and retrieval operations but there were still local folks who wanted to continue despite the danger the site poses to them. “It is the decision already of the local officials, I already recommended to them to stop,” he said.

Degamo said the geohazard map was used as basis in warning the local officials. He said it is now too dangerous for rescue groups to continue searching for survivors, adding that rescuers may endanger their health after being continuously exposed to decomposing bodies.

Officials earlier said the constant rain and aftershocks have also contributed to the difficulty in the retrieval operations, which was already dangerous for the search teams because the site itself has become unstable.

National Disaster Risk and Management Council executive director Benito Ramos, according to a GMA News online report, said there was no longer chance of finding survivors underneath the rubble in Guihulngan and La Libertad. “The findings of our thermal imager were negative,” he said.

Ramos said local officials and residents were however still optimistic, “but the truth is our high-tech equipment had not registered people that are alive (under the rubble),” he said.

The landslide areas would be transformed instead into memorial sites with the names of the missing victims inscribed. “We’ll be putting up crosses in the areas and will be blessed by priests,” Ramos said.

Degamo said he felt the sadness of the families but assured them that the provincial government will help them recover from the disaster. He extended his condolences and apologies to the families of the victims whose bodies were not recovered, and then thanked the rescue groups, organizations, the police and the military for their help.

For those who have died and are still missing, an Ecumenical Mass was held at the site in Crossing Mambug of Brgy. Planas in Guihulngan last Thursday, said Capt. Anacito Naz, civil-military operations officer of the 302nd Infantry Brigade.

The Mass was initiated to generate public acceptance of the termination of search and retrieval operations he said. It was tendered by the Guihulngan LGU and attended by city officials and employees, the regional DRRMC.

The Mass was tendered by the Guihulngan City government at Crossing Mambug in Brgy. Planas, and was attended by officials and employees of Guihulngan City Hall, personnel of the Regional DRRMC, various military units, media and other organizations, Naz said.

Lieutenant Col. Ramil Bitong, 11th Infantry Battalion commander, said the DPWH has already repaired some of the damaged roads, with the help of the Philippine Army, and the highway from Dumaguete to the quake-hit areas were now passable for distribution of relief goods.

Naz said most schools in Guihulngan and La Libertad still suspended classes because pupils and students refused to go to schools for fear of another quake or landslide. Even some residents refused to go home for the same fear, and opted to stay in safer areas, he added.

Degamo said relief operations would still continue for the next two weeks, and that three dump trucks of goods were sent to affected areas, especially in mountain villages. —With wire reports  (FREEMAN)