CLOSE to 2,000 residents form the different municipalities in Benguet received relief packs distributed by Honeylet Salvador Avencena, President Rodrigo Duterte's common-law wife.
Benguet Governor Crescencio Pacalso said the relief goods were also given to Itogon residents who were affected by Typhoon "Ompong" (Mankhut) on September 15.
The relief packs include food items and kitchen utensils which were also distributed to the other towns of the province which were hit by the typhoon.
Pacalso said the donation came from Avancena's friends in the private sector who wanted to help victims of Ompong.
"Ang kuwento niya mayroon daw silang kaibigan na gustong tumulong. Kami naman hinanda namin with DSWD iyong victims ng bagyo dito atin," he added.
In Itogon, the Office of Civil Defense Cordillera chief Rueben Carandang said signs of life at a mining tunnel will determine the tone of the ongoing search and retrieval at the level 070 in Ucab.
Carandang said if no signs of life will be determined, operations will shift to retrieval ruling out survivors.
On Tuesday, Philex Mining Corporation has sent a team of 11 miners to enter tunnels now uncovered at the site.
Philex devised the plan to open a road leading to the site allowing backhoes to enter, a move which sped up retrieval operations since Sunday.
The dirt road has since been dubbed as the "Philex Rescue Road."
On Tuesday, four more bodies were retrieved, upping the body count to 54.
Death toll for the region has now reached 109.
Meanwhile, Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CRDRRMC) Vice Chair for Disaster Response, Department of Social Welfare and Development Regional Director Janet Armas, in a CRDRRMC meeting, reported they continue to deliver family food packs and nonfood items continue in Itogon and 25 of their personnel remain on duty at the municipality. Aside from relief operations, they are occupied with the management of evacuation centers.
Armas also reported aside from Itogon, the municipality of Kabayan, also in Benguet is much affected especially with damaged road network that delivery of family food packs is being done through the assistance of the Philippine Air Force.
There were already 620 family food packs and 72 sleeping kits delivered in the municipality. More FPPs are set for delivery.
For other assistance, Armas disclosed that under DSWD's "Balik – Probinsiya" program, 23 landslide survivors were already awarded with P25,000 checks for transportation and food assistance and 24 others were given cash assistance varying from P1,500 – P5,000. One was already provided with P25, 000 burial assistance and 33 more are on process. (With a report from PIA-CAR)
