NASAGIP ang labingsiyam na katao kabilang ang pitong bata matapos mahulog sa bangin ang sinasakyan nilang van sa kahabaan ng Marilaque Highway sa Sta. Maria, Laguna sa tulong ng Unified 911 Emergency Hotline.
Ayon sa Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), mabilis na nailunsad ang rescue operation matapos makatanggap ng emergency call ukol sa aksidente malapit sa Barangay Laurel.
“What could have ended in tragedy instead became a story of swift action, coordination, and lives protected. Moments after an emergency call was placed to 911 reporting the crash near Barangay Laurel, responders from the Sta. Maria Municipal Police Station (MPS), the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), and other emergency personnel immediately mobilized to the scene,” ayon sa DILG.
Batay sa inisyal na imbestigasyon ng pulisya, binabaybay ng van ang national highway nang mawalan ng kontrol ang driver habang binabagtas ang pakurbadang bahagi ng kalsada dahilan upang mahulog ito sa bangin.
Sa kabila ng mapanganib na aksidente, matagumpay na nailigtas ang lahat ng 19 na sakay ng van na nagtamo lamang ng minor injuries.
Dinala ang mga biktima sa General Cailles Memorial Hospital upang mabigyan ng agarang lunas.
“For the families waiting for news, every minute mattered. The incident underscored the importance of a reliable emergency response system that can quickly connect people in distress to those trained and ready to help,” dagdag pa ng DILG.
Kinilala rin ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ang Unified 911 Emergency Hotline, na inilunsad noong 2025, bilang mahalagang bahagi ng public safety agenda ng administrasyon upang mabigyan ng mabilis na access ang publiko sa emergency assistance saan mang bahagi ng bansa.
Pinuri rin ng DILG ang coordinated efforts ng Philippine National Police (PNP), MDRRMO at iba pang responding agencies dahil sa mabilis na pagtugon na nakatulong upang maiwasan ang mas malaking trahedya.
“The Department likewise reminded the public to use the 911 hotline responsibly, emphasizing that every legitimate call can mean the difference between danger and safety, and in situations like this, can help bring people home to their families,” ayon pa sa DILG.
(JESSE RUIZ)
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