A team of 19 trained emergency responders from the mining firm St. Augustine Gold and Copper Limited (SAGCL) braved the strong winds and rampaging floodwaters brought about by Typhoon Pablo and saved hundreds of Pantukan residents from harm’s way.
The team was led by Michael Salaguinto with Abdul Basit Pinute, Robert Cabigas, Rhina Orejela, Edwin Seno, Jummary Junio, Arjay Nacilla, Robert Tubida, Leslie Suico, Roger Beduya, AltohamiCamamara, Roderick Bajo, Nor-akbar Amil, RasvenDemura, James Baylosis, Joseph Balderas, Merchie Apple Bajo, Montesa Samonte, and Alejandro Gaid.
Even before the landfall of Pablo in the adjacent province of Davao Oriental, the KCGP responders were already busy preparing for their rescue mission as per advise by Jonathan Bañez, community development and political affairs manager /rescue coordinator of SAGCL.
They instructed the KCGP Rescue team to be on alert and to recall all community Responders (COMRES). The Team coordinated with the Municipal Risk Reduction Management Council of Pantukan.
The team was instructed to help all evacuees and take all of them to the evacuation centers.
“If there’s an injured person we would give them immediate care and transport them to Compostela Valley Province Hospital (CVPH) of Pantukan if the situation worsens due to the calamity,” said Salaguinto in his written report to Bañez.
The KCGP also touched base with the local government unit, and the Philippine Army for a better coordination of their rescue efforts during the typhoon.
On the evening of December 3, the KCGP responders went on air over the radio and appealed to the Pantukan residents to cooperate with the rescue effort of MDRRMC if situation worsens and make a voluntary evacuation if needed.
On December 4 at around 1 a.m., the heavy winds and partial rains came. All responders were already on alert by four in the morning just as Typhoon Pablo made a landfall in Baganga, Davao Oriental.
The heavy wind and rains are throughout the Compostela Valley province. Salaguinto started to brief all responders regarding the equipment that they need, assigned groupings and safety precautions that will be made.
“We ended the briefing with a prayer that shall guide us all upon doing all actions for the community,” Salaguinto recalled.
At five in the morning, the team moved out and had a reconnaissance to the areas of Mendoza, Tunga, and Lahiin Barangay Magnaga; Cebulida and Sta. Cruz in Kingking; and the areas going to the Municipal Hall of Pantukan.
The team reported to Napoleon Cuahao, MDRRMC Action Officer, and Felimon Gamad, Municipal Administrator/OIC Mayor, about the trees that fell on power lines, and coconuts that barricaded the roads.
Afterwhich, they went to Barangay Kingking Hall and forwarded the same report to the barangay officials.
“At seven in the morning, a call coming from Magnaga Barangay Councilor Bienvenido Bajo was received sayingthat there are people trapped at Upper Lahi and needed to evacuate. They need our team to assist and help those people who were trapped on the flash flood,” said the team leader.
“When we reached Upper Lahi, we received another call from Michael Manguhig that there are people who want to evacuate and needs our help to assist them. I decided that Team 1 will remain in Upper Lahi to continue in assisting, and the Team 2 will proceed to Kingking Bridge. When we reached the bridge we saw the very strong flow/ current of the water from the bridge. We took a short cut to get the people. After getting the children, women, elders along with their clothing, we assisted them in riding on the Philippine Army truck and while the rest rode on the ambulance. We put them all to evacuation center in new gym at Nursery, beside the 701st Infantry Battalion,” said Salaguinto.
When Team 1 was done assisting the Upper Lahi evacuees, they proceeded to Looban, Kingking and rejoined Team 2 to help the evacuees. Now all responders are focused in Looban. The flood was strong because of the overflowing water from Sitio Lawaan.
“After we assisted the residents of Looban, we received a call from the mother of Rhina Orejela, one of our responders. She said that they also need assistance in helping evacuate the residents of Barangay Bongbong since the river has overflown. Thus, all the responders, ambulance, and ATV’s proceeded to Bongbong,” narrated Salaguinto.
By 1:45 p.m., hundreds of evacuees are already safe in the evacuation center. The KCGP responders then checked all of their members to make sure are all are accounted for. While resting, the team resumed their monitoring.
By then, the flood has reached the national highway. Their ambulance could no longer penetrate the flooded areas thus only the all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are working since water level was too high.
“By 3 p.m., we decided to go back to Bongbong. We assisted the community using ATV, wherein were able to assist seven families. After that we proceed to Traveler’s Inn to wait for further instructions and call. But after 30 minutes, the rains and wind stopped. This was a good sign because the current of the floodwater is calming down and will no longer be able to rise. We reported to Jonathan Bañez that the situation has calmed, he told us to standby in Traveler’s Inn for observations until the next day,” Salaguinto said.
The following day, the weather is calm yet the KCGP team again conducted roving to check if the flood was receding.
“We saw that other evacuees went back to their respective houses while some are still at the evacuation centers. The sunshine showed that it was a sign that the typhoon Pablo was out of our area of responsibility. We went back to Traveler’s Inn and called Jonathan Bañez for updates. He ordered to our responder to go home and help their families to clean their houses,” Salaguinto recalled.
After hours of adrenaline-pumping rescue efforts, the team of 19 brave souls went back to their families in good health and without any injuries.
St. Augustine Gold & Copper Ltd. is currently undertaking the feasibility study for mining the Kingking Copper and Gold deposit in Pantukan. They are conducting extensive environmental and social baseline studies, community consultations, exploratory drillings and other related studies within the area.
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