Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval lauded on Monday, Dec. 5, the city rescuers and volunteers for successfully saving a woman who was trapped inside a four-story residential building that collapsed in Barangay Longos on Sunday, Dec. 4.
The mayor thanked those who responded to the incident which include rescuers and volunteers from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Malabon Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (DRRMO), Red Cross, Malabon City Police Station and other groups.
According to the BFP, the incident that happened on Orchid St. in Brgy. Longos was reported to them at around 7 a.m. on Sunday.
The victim, identified as Ronalyn Tombukon, 22, was rescued at around 11:22 a.m. on the same day. She was rushed to the Ospital ng Malabon for treatment.
Sandoval said that the victim only sustained minor injuries and was already discharged from the hospital.
Malabon City Engineering Department (CED) head Harold Arranz told Manila Bulletin that city government personnel already demolished the collapsed building on Monday, Dec. 5, and a clearing operation is currently being conducted.
He added that the city is investigating how the houses of informal settler families were established in the area, which is a dried waterway connected to Pinagsabugan Creek.
They will also place a cord around the area to ensure that no houses will be built there again.
He said that they have already recommended to the mayor the relocation of the families affected by the building collapse for their safety.
Malabon DRRMO head Roderick Tongol said that the Department of Social Welfare Development has identified 24 affected families who live near the collapsed building and are currently staying in the homes of their relatives and friends.
In line with the International Volunteers Day on Dec. 5, the mayor also expressed gratitude to the volunteers from the Red Cross and other fire and rescue groups for their assistance to the city during calamities.