ANGELES CITY, Philippines – Search, rescue, and recovery operations continue at the collapse site in Barangay Balibago, Angeles City as authorities maintain coordinated efforts under the Unified Command Management System, focusing on clearing operations and the management of the dead and missing.
Officials said response teams remain on the ground conducting ongoing retrieval and recovery work as efforts shift between search, rescue, and site clearing operations.
During a visit to the incident site, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla Jr. said government agencies will maintain focus on the ground operations while also pursuing a parallel investigation into the cause of the building collapse.
Remulla said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) will lead data gathering and fact-finding efforts to help determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Prior to the visit of the DILG chief, Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin II outlined initial local government response measures, including shelter and psychosocial support for affected families, financial assistance, medical aid, food packages, and transportation assistance for rescued individuals returning to their provinces, in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The local government also formed a composite team composed of private engineers, lawyers, and other experts to conduct a technical review aimed at determining the cause of the structural failure.
Officials said long-term assistance programs and additional interventions are being prepared through the City Social Welfare and Development Office for affected families.
Authorities emphasized that operations remain sensitive to the needs of victims’ families, while responders continue exhaustive search and retrieval efforts under a coordinated command structure.
The Angeles City government expressed condolences to affected families and urged the public to continue offering prayers, understanding, and respect as recovery and investigation efforts proceed.
