SEARCH and retrieval operation will continue for the six individuals who are still missing and were believed to be buried inside the rubble of a building in Natonin, Mountain Province.

Since November 15, the search and rescue team undertaking the retrieval operations has yet to find a body.

The landslide in Banawel buried more than 20 persons inside a building of the Department of Public Works and Highways – Mountain Province 2nd Engineering District, according to a report by Mountain Province Public Information Officer Novy Afidchao.

Learning form the unfortunate experience, the DPWH earlier said all facilities of agency will undergo appropriate assessment to ensure that none of these buildings are located in hazardous areas.

DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, who was the guest of honor and speaker during the 14th National Annual Convention of the District Engineers League of the Philippines in Baguio City last week, said measures will be implemented to ensure such incident would not happen again to other facilities of the department in the country.

“What happened in Natonin is a very hard lesson for all of us and I hope it never happens again, but we should do everything in our power,” he said.

DPWH is set to use the hazard map after Villar recently sent out a memo for the department to review existing infrastructure and to be more vigilant with its new structures to make sure that nothing will be compromised in anyway particularly on safety.

Meanwhile, the local government of Natonin is calling for additional support to those willing to help by providing bottled water for groups continuing the search and rescue.