ANGELES CITY (June 1, 2026) — Rescuers from the Municipal Government of Concepcion, Tarlac, are among the first to extend assistance in the high-stakes search, rescue, and retrieval operations at the site of a collapsed nine-story building in Barangay Balibago here.
Concepcion is one of the first to respond to the disaster alongside its neighboring sister towns Capas and Bamban, Tarlac.
The Concepcion Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office was immediately ordered by Mayor Noel Villanueva to assist in the rescue efforts as soon as news of the building collapse emerged last week. The town’s Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue (CSSR) Team is being headed by Local DRRM Officer Ronald Bautista.
The Tarlac Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), in close coordination with the Office of Civil Defense Regional Office 3 (OCD3), also deployed personnel equipped with essential logistical assets to reinforce the operations at the site.
The massive mobilization was initiated by PDRRMC Chairperson and Tarlac Governor Christian Yap, who dispatched provincial personnel to extend immediate humanitarian assistance. Governor Yap also sent vital sustainment to all responders on the ground through his signature “Pagkain Muna” program to ensure the rescue teams remain supported during the grueling operations.
The structure was a proposed mixed-use condo-hotel that had been under construction since 2020. It was reportedly in its final finishing stages when it completely caved in at around 3:00 a.m. on May 24, trapping dozens of construction workers who were asleep on the second floor. The catastrophic structural failure, which witnesses initially mistook for an earthquake, sent massive slabs of concrete and twisted steel beams crashing onto the street, damaging an adjacent apartelle and cutting off power lines across the immediate vicinity.
The Tarlac rescue units have integrated into a massive, multi-agency effort operating under a Unified Command System, which brings together various local DRRMs, PDRRMOs, and national response teams. Together, the personnel are conducting careful clearing activities and navigating highly unstable debris as the death toll continues to rise, with a dozen fatalities already confirmed and several individuals still reported missing.
Aside from the primary search and retrieval objectives, the Concepcion MDRRMO and other Tarlac units are actively supporting peripheral response efforts to streamline the complex operations. Provincial and local officials emphasized that while the teams continue to exhibit deep dedication, readiness, and concern for the affected communities during this emergency, the strict enforcement of safety protocols for all responders on-site remains a top priority.
As the grueling operations enter a critical phase, the Tarlac provincial government and municipal leaders extended their heartfelt condolences and sympathies to those who have been affected by the tragedy. They also recognized the hard work and immense dedication of all DRRM workers, particularly the responders who are working seamlessly together toward a common goal, while calling on the public to pray for the safety of the frontline rescuers and the ultimate success of the mission.
