KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/02 June) – Three children who were swept away by flashfloods while swimming to cross the Nuangan River in Barangay Magsaysay at around 4:30 p.m. Friday were rescued by the Kidapawan City Emergency Response Unity (KidCERU).
Psalmer Bernalte, KidCERU head, identified the rescued children as Jayson Campomanes, 11; Edian Galinato, 8; and Vincent Bechayda, 10, all residents of Llanderal Subdivision in BarangayMagsaysay.
Bernalte said the children were swimming in the Nuangan River when it rained hard at around 4 4 p.m.,Friday. A few minutes later, the children saw rampaging waters coming to their direction.
Fortunately, one of them was able to shout for help, Bernalte said.
Two of the First Aid responders and KidCERU members from Barangay Magsaysay, Riz Malapan and Danny Torreon, rescued the drowning children.
“Had it not been for the quick action of our First Aid responders, these children would have been dead,” said Bernalte.
He urged villagers living near riverbanks to warn their children against swimming or playing in the river during the rainy season.
“We don’t know what happens next when the rain comes so we better prepare,” said Bryan Balmediano of the Philippine Red Cross Kidapawan City sub-chapter.
The drowning incident in Nuangan River was the second in North Cotabato in five days.
On May 28, a 66-yearold tribal chieftain in Barangay Binay in Magpet town died from drowning in the Kabacan River when the dike connecting the village to Barangay Tuael in President Roxas town, was damaged by strong water currents.
The body of Datu Jose Embac of the Manobo tribe was found in a canal in Barangay Alegria in President Roxas town the next day. (Malu Cadelina-Manar/MindaNews)