NHA gives P10-M to Itogon; residents start to rebuild lives

ITOGON, Benguet – Victims of Typhoon Ompong here are now starting to rebuild their lives with some help from government.

The National Housing Authority turned over last week a P10-million cheque to the local government of Itogon as its emergency assistance to victims of “Ompong” wherein around a hundred persons were buried alive in a landslide here at Barangay Ucab on Sept. 15

NHA general manager Jun Escalada handed the cheque to Mayor Victorio Palangdan in the presence of residents, mostly senior citizens.

                “The president came to see for himself what is happening on the ground. I was ordered, to see the areas devastated and the extent of damage to know how we can give immediate assistance,” Escalada told residents.

It’s about time we also intervene and assist Itogon. This is the humble, simple assistance from the Office of the President.”

He said that from the assistance, Palangdan would identify the qualified beneficiaries for the repair of their homes.

The money will be used to buy nails, sand and gravel, cement, steel, everything and the mayor will liquidate the amount to the NHA.

Escalada said the “NHA will fully support the residents in terms of construction materials which must be used in building or repairing their houses that must be located in buildable areas.”

A large area of Itogon was declared a danger zone by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.

He said the assistance can be applied even if the residence to be established is outside Itogon.

“Hope na ang tulong ni Presidente at least nakabigay ng financial assistance ay naka bigay ginhawa (eased their condition),” Escalada said.

While the money is not enough, the P10 million will go a long way for Itogon.

He said the agency can still come up with another package of assistance. “This (P10 million) is a quick and immediate response,” he pointed out, adding that “we can package a long term solution for the victims.”

In response, Mayor Palangdan expressed gratitude for the continuing support.

He said previous victims of calamities in 2009 and 2015 remained unserved as there have yet to be identified safe permanent relocation site.

The mayor cited the 2015 incident at Camanggaan, Virac village, where 42 residents who moved out of their residences at the sinkhole, had returned due to lack of relocation.

“That is also our problem. We will also follow-up with NHA on the assistance we have earlier requested.”

Escalada assured residents that they will help rebuilt the lives of the people by helping rebuild their homes.

Palangdan, told the regular monthly meeting of the senior citizens in the town, reiterated the plea to residents to comply with the order of the national government to stop all small-scale mining activity in the town.

Last Sept. 17, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu issued a cease and desist order (CDO) for all small-scale mining activities in the whole Cordillera, following the devastation left by typhoon “Ompong” and the major landslide that killed scores of people.

A total of 111 people have been confirmed dead in the whole Cordillera, most of them in Benguet. Itogon town alone recorded 86 deaths and 20 missing.

The mayor said the Task Force on Mining Challenge would implement the order and arrest people who continue to do small-scale mining activities.

“The President ordered the stoppage of small-scale mining here and the whole region, that is why during the meeting, the National Task Force Mining Challenge will implement the order. Because all will be stopped - mining, gold panning on rivers, processing, the national government agencies is planning a long term livelihood project, not just for the victims but to all residents,” he said in Ilocano language, adding that even sari-sari stores might also be affected.

“They will arrest anybody seen in mining sites, doing processing activities and even those doing gold panning activities,” Palangdan said.

He asked that residents follow the order by padlocking their mines, stopping their processing activities. He also told the elders to advise their children and kin to stop the activity.

“We met with the federation [of small scale miners] and we have pleaded for the implementation of the CDO order.”

He assured residents of the commitment of the national government through the line agencies. “Let us be patients. If they see that we are complying

“Let us wait for the announcements because the Secretaries we have been talking to - the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and other agencies will help us,” he said.

He cited TESDA's program to provide skills that will help in the livelihood of the residents. This will be coupled by the livelihood assistance from the different agencies.

He also mentioned the cash-for-work assistance of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), DENR and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Palangdan also said “our immediate need is food and education of our children. Let us be patient because all these help will come.”

He added the Municipal council is laying down plans for the livelihood and other assistance to the residents, the fund of which will be aided by the national government, considering the LGU’s limited funds.

The mayor also relayed the DENR’s commitment to help in the processing of the “minahang bayan,” that will legalize activities and will be regulated as provided for in the SSM law.

 Palangdan said many of the small-scale miners opt to go into the activity as it provides a good income, despite the risks and hazards that go with it.

“Better if I die in an accident in the small scale mine than die of hunger,” the mayor relayed statements of small-scale miners.

Reynante Mayos, 28 a small scale miner in Itogon who hails from Kapangan town in Benguet said in Ilocano that “I came here 15 years ago when my uncle invited me as I was then doing nothing. We were doing our work at the first gate where we also lived.”

He said that as a teenager, he initially feared for his life but the income was good.

He shared the life of a miner, saying that “once you enter the mining area, one of your foot is under the grave. You are as good as dead until you come out alive.”

They get paid for each day that they enter the mine site and gets a share from the income. “If we are lucky, we get a bigger amount but there are also times when the income is just enough to have food on the table,” he said.

Knowing the risks of the job, Reynante shared that most of them avoid getting into the tunnel during rainy days but at times, the temptation is high, considering that they get paid for every entry in the mine site.

Having gone back home through the DSWD’s “Balik Probinsiya” program, he said he now values his life and would opt to plant rice and vegetables in Kapangan for the sake of his three children aged 6, 5 and 2.

He advised his fellow miners: “when rescuers come to tell you to evacuate, please comply and do not be hard headed and evacuate your families to avoid accidents.” -- PNA