CALAMBA CITY, Laguna — TWELVE people died and 13 others were injured in separate vehicular and drowning accidents during the Lenten Week, the Office of Civil Defense(OCD)-Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) reported on Monday.
Calabarzon OCD-RDRRMC Regional Director Olivia M. Luces said on Good Friday, a six-year-old girl Girlie Talag Bonsol drowned in Rosman Beach Resort while Gerald Castillo, 27, survived after he was rescued at Dela Rosa Beach Resort. Both resorts are located in Barangay Nonong Casto in Lemery, Batangas.
Castillo was rushed to the Batangas Provincial Hospital.
Other drowning fatalities on Good Friday were identified as 16 year-old Piolo Pilapil in Calatagan, Batangas and Freddie Flores Fernandez, 39, who drowned in Balete, Batangas, the OCD reported.
Balete Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (MDRRMO) Janeth Onrubia reported the incident to the Philippine Coast Guard district command but discovered Fernandez’ body on morning of Black Saturday.
The OCD-RDRRMC Calabarzon official also reported that the body of drowning victim Roy Amparo Cabangon was found floating at the Malatandang Beach in Barangay Ilayang Kalilayan in Unisan, Quezon.
Drowning victim John Michael Balmedina was declared dead on arrival at the Bondoc Peninsula District Hospital in Catanauan, Quezon while 10 year-old JV Kim Dimaalihan suffered the same fate in a swimming pool in the Palm Ville Subdivision clubhouse in Tayabas City.
Six other drowning fatalities were reported in Pila, Laguna on Maundy Thursday when the banca they were riding with nine other passengers capsized off at Barangay Lingga in Laguna de Bay.
Director Luces identified the six fatalities as Jonalyn Procopio, 43, of Jala-Jala, Rizal; Lester Kent Desoloc, 19, of Pila, Laguna ; Eleazar Jacob Manalo, 23, of Pila; Jenard Pailan, 15, of Calamba City; Joan Resureccion, 18, of Pila; and Maria Jolyn Quiñola of Calamba City.
She said the OCD-RDRRMC and the region’s LDRRMOs and response agencies were on “standby alert” and ready for any contingency until Tuesday in their areas of operation and responsibility.
Despite the close of the Lenten week on Easter Sunday, the Department of Interior and Local Government IV-A (Calabarzon) and local government units (LGUs) still expect influx of people returning and spending their vacation.
LGUs have been monitoring transportation flow, implementing medical emergency services, peace and order and public safety to the public as top priority.
DILG4A also enjoined LGUs here to ensure cleanliness and orderliness by mobilizing all resources and garbage collection and disposal and clean-up operations of public places after the Holy Week.
The Calabarzon Police Regional Office (PRO4A) is also continuing with its OPLAN SUMVAC in cooperation with all city and municipal police stations in the region by setting up of police assistance centers in convergence zones.
Luces said this was to ensure police visibility in identified critical areas and to guarantee safety of visitors, tourist and locals especially in all converging points like bus terminals, seaports and recreational areas.
OCD-RDRRMC also disclosed police and traffic management reports of 13 injured motorists and passengers in vehicular accidents in Batangas City.
Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) – Batangas has been coordinating with port and maritime police, coast guard and local government enforcement agencies on heightened security alert.
The port authorities in Batangas, Northern and Southern Quezon have also ensured good running conditions of safety and security equipment, baggage x-ray scanners, walk-thru detectors, CCTVs including directional signs as they ushered in some 7,339 outbound and 11,544 inbound passengers as of Sunday.
Coast guard detachments in the region’s ports are in “Full Alert Status” with their operatives manning assistance desks, inspecting baggage and implementing security procedures in ports and port passenger terminals. Saul Pa-a/PNA – northboundasia.com