SOUTHERN Leyte top officials led the 13th commemorative mass and program for the landslide victims at Barangay Guinsaugon, Saint Bernard on Sunday, February 17.

Congressman Roger Mercado and his brother-Governor Damian Mercado, along with other local officials and relatives of the victims, offered flowers and prayers at the landmark where nearly 2,000 people including some 200 school children were buried alive during the tragedy.

At exactly 10:36 a.m. on February 17, 2006, a rain-soaked portion of Mt. Kan-abag overlooking Guinsagon collapsed without warning, burying the entire village.

During the program, Governor Mercado also donated P30,000 as financial assistance to the barangay.

Meanwhile, Congressman Mercado expressed confidence on the passage of his House Bill 8948 or “An Act Declaring February 17 of every year a special working holiday in the province of Southern Leyte to be known as the Guinsaugon Day in memory of the victims of the 2006 landslide in barangay Guinsaugon, Saint Bernard, province of Southern Leyte.”

The province also intensified its disaster risk reduction and management program in the area and the rest of the municipalities. (SunStar Philippines)