MANILA (PNA) --
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said rescue
groups have found alive some survivors from the
two-storey Repador Building that collapsed some 10
days ago in Real, Quezon at the height of typhoon
"Winnie." She praised the faceless heroes who have
been helping the government in its rescue and
rehabilitation efforts in the calamity-stricken areas.
The President made the
announcement this afternoon at the National Convention
of Government Employees attended by some 200 officers
and members of the Philippine Government Employees
Association (PGEA) at the Heroes, Hall in Malacañang.
"Today, a team of
soldiers, DENR (Department of Environment and Natural
Resources) employees, rescue operators, and volunteers
from the Chamber of Mines jumped off onto the beach
from a helicopter because there was no place to land,
walked two kilometers to the collapsed building, and
found 12 people alive after more than 10 days. We must
believe in miracles," she said.
After addressing the
convention, the President flew to Lucena City to
personally comfort the survivors who were brought to
the Quezon Memorial Hospital.
Some 100 people were
reported missing and feared dead after the building
that was used as an evacuation center in Real town
collapsed due to landslides at the height of typhoon
"Winnie" in the evening of November 29.
The President also
appreciated the immediate response of Congress to
combat illegal logging and the outpouring of
international assistance for the calamity victims.
She commended the
anonymous public servants, calling them "unsung
heroes" for the good work they have been doing in the
disaster operations, such as the soldiers who walked
kilometers on foot just to bring relief goods to the
hungry and stranded victims in the recent calamity.
"The continued outpouring
of international assistance is something on which the
Filipino people is grateful. We shall never forget the
wanton loss of lives as a result of the recent
calamity and we will be constantly reminded to
rekindle the solidarity of our people and not to allow
this misfortune to happen again," the President said.
