DENR 4A Forest Monitoring Officer’s Body, Found after a Drowning Incident in General Nakar, Quezon

Selected members of the Regional National Greening Program Validation Team along with 3 laborers and a staff from CENRO Real were conducting survey and mapping activities at the proposed e-NGP site in Brgy, Mahabang Lalim, General Nakar Quezon when the drowning incident happened at 8:30 AM last October 28. While traversing the Kanan River, Santos was swept away by the raging water current.

 

Search and rescue operations were immediately conducted by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office of Infanta, Quezon on the same day of the incident while the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Committees of Barangays Minahan Norte, Minahan Sur, Maigang, Batangan, Pisa, and Mahabang Lalim were alerted to monitor for possible sighting of Santos. The CENRO Real Quick Response Team was also dispatched in the area while the RNGP Coordinator contacted the Indigenous Peoples of General Nakar to conduct an independent search and rescue operation at the Banks of Agos River. Four motorboats were deployed in Agos River for a parallel search operation of local residents. Aerial search was also conducted by CENRO Real while the Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Oliver Olivo closely coordinated with the military and local MDRRM for the continued operation.

 

At around 11AM on October 30, the body of Santos was found by Forest Protection Officer Ruben Bornolla, Forest Ranger Windel Adornado, and FPO Ronnie Odi floating 2km away from Pagsangahan Bridge. The body was immediately retrieved and transported to the town proper of General Nakar. The family of FMO Santos was informed regarding the incident while his brother was accompanied by representatives from the DENR CALABARZON Regional and Field Offices to General Nakar.

 

Rigor Santos is a 30-year-old native of Tanay, Rizal and a graduate of Bachelor of Agricultural Technology from the University of Rizal System. He is a Forest Monitoring Officer assigned at the Regional National Greening Program Coordinating Office (RNGPCO) of DENR CALABARZON and has served the Department for almost 8 years. He has two children and is the current breadwinner of his family.

 

The DENR CALABARZON has submitted a report to the DENR Undersecretary for Field Operations and Environment regarding the incident and continued assistance is currently being provided to the family. ###