A RESCUER catches his breath during search operation in a collapsed building in Angeles City. (Angeles City Information Office)
Angeles City Mayor Carmelo “Jon” Lazatin II said the city government will provide psycho-social support, financial assistance, medical and food packages, and transportation arrangements to the victims of the building collapse and their families with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the City Social Welfare and Development Office.
Lazatin said a composite team composed of private engineers, lawyers, and experts will participate in the investigation that hopes to shed light on the tragedy. Long-term assistance will be provided to the victims and their families through the CSWDO.
Officials vowed that search operations will remain sensitive for the families of the victims under the Unified Command Management Option.
Lazatin urged the contractor and property owner to cooperate with investigators and voluntarily appear before authorities to answer questions of possible negligence.
He said that if lapses or negligence are proven, those responsible must be held accountable under the law.
Lazatin said government’s responsibility does not end at the disaster site. “Families of victims deserve clear answers while the public deserves transparency and justice throughout the investigation process.”
Unified Command units continue systematic retrieval and clearing operations using heavy equipment. Rescue personnel are carefully dismantling metal debris, including twisted scaffolding and reinforced materials, to prevent further hazards during recovery operations.
The Bureau of Fire Protection Special Rescue Force and other responding units are conducting continuous structural assessments to ensure the safety of responders and recovery and proper identification procedures for any remains and missing persons.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla Jr. on Wednesday, May 27, visited the site of the collapsed building.
Remulla urged the city government to focus on search and retrieval operations and vowed DILG assistance in the investigation to be led by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
Labor and Employment Secretary Francis Tolentino inspected the building site on Wednesday to determine if construction workers’ labor conditions were violated.