Body count on for Cordilleras
A BODY count for the dead and a frantic search for the missing is on at the highlands as the as Cordillera reels from the brunt of typhoon Ompong.
In Baguio city, CDRRMC action officer Carlos Canilao updated said casualties in the Pine City reached six with nine missing.
Confirmed fatalities are Shaina Mae L Pascua, 19, Grace Ganabe, 45, from Young Land Subdivision at Camp 7; Cynthia Ballingan, 18, and Lovely Jane Bulakit, 11, from Bakakeng Norte; Jessica Oydoc Glenuar, 18 from nearby Balacbac, Sto. Tomas and Miriam Behis from Camp7.
Identified missing were Jose Oydoc Grenuar, Ruben Garcia Viernes, Celso Calso, John Lee Operania Viernes, Christine Atuban, Edwin Angeles Cabaldo with three unidentifed from camp 8 and one from the loakan road area.
Meanwhile, Batang Pinoy delegates totalling 2,215 housed at three billeting clusters in the city are all accounted for.
Baguio City National High School houses 1127 athletes from 36 Luzon local government units, Quezon and Mabini Elementary schools has 572 from 26 Mindanao and Baguio Central School, Josefa Carino and Pines City National has 516 from 26 Visayas areas.
Other athletes in transit on Saturday were accommodated in Pasig by the Phillipine Sports Commission.
The Baguio City Government formed a quick response team to ensure the well-being of athletes aged 15 and below who are set for a weeklong athletic meet.
Coordinators were deployed in each billeting center to ensure enough food and water supply, address the medical needs and ensure the safe and comfortable condition of the housing areas.
In nearby La Trinidad, Benguet, a municipal wide ban on the sale and serving of liquor and alcoholic beverages has been imposed from 6:00 pm of September 14, 2018 until 12:00 a.m. of September 16 to assure quick and alert response from the public.
Catholic priest Manny Flores meanwhile has called for donations of blankets, beddings, additional food rations, drinking water and hygiene kits for worst hit in province of Benguet.
The PDRRMC of Benguet recorded over 810 families in evacuation centers in the 13 municipalities.
"Let us pray for Itogon municipality. As of the moment the devastation of their roads are severe. A community has been practically evacuated. Other communities are isolated," Flores said.
Flores said donations can be dropped at the Bishop’s House in Baguio City.
"Relief aid could not be given to the centers due to isolation caused by massive and multiple landslides and debries except for one which is in Bua, Tuding, Itogon," added Flores.
Flores said the rest of Benguet municipalities are also isolated due to landslides.
Most communication lines in the province as well as electricity is down until Sunday afternoon with some already restored Monday.