Kalinga joins search for one remaining missing victim of Bontoc vehicular tragedy

Bontoc, Mt. Province— The search and retrieval operation for the remaining missing worker from a truck that fell into the Chico River in Bontoc, Mt. Province, on October 27, is ongoing.

The Provincial Government of Kalinga, under the leadership of Governor James S. Edduba, has joined the mission this October 29 to help locate the victim.

According to the Facebook page of Governor Edduba, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), led by PDRRMO Christian Luyaben, mobilized its response clusters on Wednesday, October 29, to assist Mountain Province in its continuing search and retrieval operation.

The LUMIN-AWA search and retrieval team is composed of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the 103rd Infantry Brigade, the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company (KPFMC), Tabuk DRRMO, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and other concerned offices.

As directed by the Governor, the team's ongoing operation covers the downstream stretch of the Chico River, from Tomiangan, Pasil, down to Socbot, Pinukpuk. The team was divided into groups and were assigned to specific areas to ensure synchronized and efficient operations.

The specific areas of the search operation are as follows:

CDRRMO SAR Team: Tomiangan to Gatab Area

111SAC/11SAB, PNP-Special Action Force (SAF): Gata, Bantay to Damsite, Bado Dangwa

1405CDC, 14RCDC, RESCOM, PA: Damsite, Bado Dangwa to Pasunglao, Calanan

1st KPFCM/1st KPPO: Pasunglao, Calanan to San Fransisco, Dagupan

BFP (city and province): San Francisco, Dagupan to Cabaruan

103rd Brigade: Cabaruan to Socbot, Pinukpuk

Meanwhile, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA)-Kalinga Irrigation Management Office is monitoring the Upper Chico River Irrigation System (UCRIS) canal lines. The Office of the Provincial Health Officer is on standby for medics, and the SWAD-Kalinga is with the team to provide food assistance to the rescuers and volunteers.

Governor Edduba said the province is fully committed to helping recover the missing worker, stating in Ilocano, “Anya man ti kaya nga aramiden ti probinsiya tapno tumulong ti napaspaspas nga panakaretrive ti Bangkay ti maikalima nga biktima, ket sisasagana ti LUMIN-AWA search and retrieval team.”

It can be recalled that the Elf truck was transporting five construction workers to a project site in Kuro-Kuro, Sadanga, on October 27 when it fell 170 meters into a ravine before sinking into the river.

As of this writing, four of the five victims in the tragic accident have already been retrieved.