Landslide-hit DPWH building in Mt. Province is in danger zone —OCD official

The Department of Public Works and Highways building which was buried in a landslide on Tuesday in Mt. Province is in an area previously assessed as "danger zone," an official of the Office of Civil Defense said.

In an interview on Unang Balita on Wednesday, Office of Civil Defense-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) Regional Director Ruben Carandang said he requested the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to determine the places in the region that are prone to landslides and flash floods.

The location of the DPWH building is in an area identified as having a "very high" possibility of landslide, he said.

“Kami po ay nag-request ng assessment sa Mines and Geosciences Bureau at binigyan po kami ng listahan,” Carandang said.

He said they forwarded the list of highly landslide-prone areas to provincial and municipal offices as an advisory, and said the location of the DPWH building is on the said list.

“Amin pong isinulat sa advisory namin na naka-address sa governor. Naka-attach po du'n ang listahan ng mga ‘very high’ landslide areas tsaka very high flash flood areas,” he said.

“'Yung sulat po namin sa Mountain Province, ini-specific ko po 'yan. Nakasama po 'yang municipality ng Natonin na 'yan doon sa sulat namin sa Mountain Province,” he said”

A landslide trapped some 24 people inside the said DPWH building in Barangay Banawel, Natonin, Mountain Province on Tuesday afternoon as Typhoon Rosita crossed Northern Luzon.

Two bodies were recovered from the site on Wednesday morning, according to Natonin Mayor Mateo Chiyawan. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News