8 dead, one missing in Ifugao town landslide

Eight people died while one remains missing as of 2 p.m. Sunday, following a landslide that hit Ifugao province Saturday night amid heavy rains brought by tropical depression "Hanna," the Cordillera Region Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said. OCD Regional Director Elvira Calina identified the casualties as Erma Hiadan, 50; Ruby Manwong, 6; Megan Manwong, 4; Johani Manwong, 2; Julia Linglingon, 52; Hiadan Cupilyo, 80; Joel Linglingon, 27; and, Rommel Linglingon, 30, while the missing victim is Henry Linglingon, 55. Calina said 9-year-old Denver Bogbog was wounded in the same incident. He is being treated at the Ifugao Provincial Hospital. The landslide happened about 10 p.m. at Barangay (village) Upper Pitawan in Hingyon town where the victims live, Calina said. The victims were reportedly residing in two houses that were buried after the collapse of rocks and earth from a mountainside. Calina said that aside from Hingyon, a landslide was also reported in Barangay Ginaang in Pasil, Kalinga, which affected 350 families or 2,100 persons. No casualties were reported in the said incident. But three houses were partially damaged in Pasil, as well as farm-to-market roads, pathways, and roads worth about P10 million. Moreover, the heavy rains wrecked two irrigation systems in Lubuagan town in Kalinga – the Wa-it Communal Irrigation that costs about P100,000, and the Tab-Taba Communal Irrigation that costs about P 80,000. Calina said they are monitoring the water levels at the Binga, Ambuklao and San Roque dams to prevent any further damage. "Immediate financial assistance for the victims will be recommended to the Ifugao Provincial Council," Calina said. "Hanna" entered the Philippines before the weekend and was already reported to have left before Sunday. It, however, enhanced the southwest monsoon in the country that brought rains in parts of Luzon and the Visayas. -GMAnews.TV