ANGELES CITY, Pampanga – The owner and contractor of the collapsed building in Barangay Balibago have provided continuous assistance to victims’ families and rescuers since the days following the tragedy, according to lawyer Willy Rivera, counsel for the building owner.
Rivera said a volunteer team was organized on May 30 and immediately deployed to the collapse site to distribute food, drinks, and basic necessities to affected families.
The following day, May 31, the team began daily relief operations, providing meals, beverages, and other supplies to families awaiting updates on rescue and retrieval efforts, as well as to personnel working at the site.
On June 1, volunteers continued relief activities and coordinated with local government personnel and rescue teams to determine the immediate needs of affected families. The team also offered to facilitate financial assistance for funeral and burial expenses.
That evening, volunteers learned that several victims had been identified at Pangilinan Funeral Homes. Team members visited the funeral home after the novena prayers to meet with grieving families and provide food and dinner while they waited for the release of their loved ones.
Throughout the following days, relief operations continued. Families were given meals, drinks, and essential supplies, while volunteers maintained communication with relatives to assist them in accessing burial and funeral support.
On June 3, families requested additional necessities, including laundry supplies, clothing, slippers, hygiene products, underwear, soap, shampoo, and breakfast items such as instant noodles and coffee. The requested items were delivered the following day.
Food, drinks, and other supplies continued to be distributed from June 5 through June 8 as rescue and retrieval operations remained underway.
On June 7, the final day of the novena prayers, families requested financial support for a simple gathering to mark the conclusion of the nine-day observance. Rivera said P12,000 was provided for food, drinks, and snacks.
The same day, local government officials coordinated with representatives of the owner and contractor and requested additional heavy equipment to support clearing operations at the site. Ten dump trucks, a backhoe, and a payloader were deployed and operated continuously from the evening of June 8 until early morning the following day.
Heavy equipment remained at work on June 9 until all remaining debris had been cleared from the area. Photographs provided by the owner and contractor showed the site substantially cleared, with equipment already being withdrawn.
As of June 12, Rivera said 15 families had received burial and funeral assistance. Additional financial support was also extended to help families rebuild their livelihoods and assist students who lost relatives in the incident.
“The owner and contractor remain committed to helping affected families as they recover from this tragedy,” Rivera said.