Dad to probe Ucab tragedy

AGENCIES, MINE FIRM TO BE SUMMONED

LEVEL 070 at Ucab in Itogon will now be closed for both mining and residents following the landslide brought by Typhoon Ompong as rescue teams race against time to retrieve possible survivors after four days of search.

Itogon Councilor Arnel Bahingawan said a possible investigation will ensue, gathering line agencies to assess and determine who to blame for the tragedy while refusing to point Benguet Corporation (BC), owner of the area and in charge of giving concessions to the small scale miners.

“For the liability of BC we have to sit down, tignan kung may contribution ang company sa nangyari dito, up to

now we do not pinpoint at anyone [blame] pero naikikita niyo nag send ang Bneguet Corporation ng mga minero to help us sa rescue,” said Bahingawan.

The town official said the focus now is rescue as he still hopes for survivors but noted the recovery of bodies on site.

Bahingawan said question will now be posed to residents and miners.

“Ano ba gusto niyo, kikita kayo dyan or mawawala buhay niyo dyan, ”Bahingawan added.

Bahingawan admits the mining site has been tagged as a geohazard area but is still mined for ore and inhabited despite the danger.

The alderman said the last statement of former DENR Secreatry Gina Lopez to BC is to implement its final mine rehabilitation plan as their contract ended in the late 90’s.

“Up to now we are still waiting for the company to implement final mining rehab decommissioning plan, siguro may other options pa na pupuntahan mga kababayan ko pero ang primordial profession dito is mining, so we could recommend other areas Kung may other areas na pwede.”

Bahingawan said miners in the area are trying to organize themselves to comply with small scale mining law so as not to be tagged as illegal.

Two small scale mining bunkhouses and a church have been buried with close to 100 people feared to be underneath mud and rubble.

Mayor Victorio Palangdan of Itogon stressed the area has been declared a no mining zone but small scale miners still go to mine the area.

Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways in the Cordillera region reported road networks earlier affected by Ompong have been opened particularly the national road.

Among the major highways which were recently opened include the Benguet-Vizcaya, the Poblacion-Twin River road in Itogon, Baguio-Bua-Itogon and Twin RiverDalupirip road.

Provincial roads that were opened include the Kias-Philex, KiasBalatoc-Poblacion road, and the Ucab junction-Keystone road, while municipal roads consisting of the Kiweng-BaloyGuesette-AnsepsepDamolpos and the Baguio-AnteganLoakan proper road, the Bahong-LabilabKawayan junction and upper Manga-LungsyaKeystone and MidasPoblacion road all in the Municipality of Itogon are open with only the 1st gate 070 level is still closed.

In Baguio City, the Benguet Electric Cooperative is nearing the completion of re-energizing of most barangays in the city.

Beneco Community Relations Officer Eric De Guzman said Beneco personnel are slowly bringing back power to the various barangays following the improved weather condition in the city.

“Out of the 128 Barangays in Baguio City, 105 have been energized as compared to the earlier 98 barangays. We, however are still encountering difficulty in restoring power in isolated areas in the city due to the road networks which have been affected by Typhoon Ompong,” De Guzman explained.

Beneco have assured contractors have already been assigned to the isolated areas to the do repairs and once passable, personnel of Beneco will be sent to help in the restoration of power.

Telco giant Smart Communications also assured full restoration of its network in the coming days.

Smart Communications Vice President for external affairs Jose Rosete said with service availability in North and Central Luzon now restored to over 90 percent, the fixed and wireless network restoration efforts are mostly focused on the hardest hit areas of Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Kalinga, Benguet and Mountain Province where transport conditions remain difficult due to landslides, damaged roadways and bridges and widespread power outages.

We continue to work with local governments and disaster response agencies to gain access to these areas,” Rosete added.