CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — What could have become a dangerous disaster turned into a successful rescue after 12 teachers were stranded in a remote community in Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro, when the rapidly rising Bongabong River cut off their only access route.
The teachers from Naswak Elementary School were stranded in Sitio Naswak, Barangay Lisap, on Thursday, August 20, after the river surged and caused a bamboo bridge serving as their main access to the area to collapse.
With the river becoming increasingly dangerous, a barangay official alerted authorities. The Bongabong Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) immediately coordinated with police and other emergency responders to reach the teachers and bring them to safety.
Bamboo bridge collapses as river rises
The situation became critical when the bamboo bridge—an important access route for the community—was swept out of service by the rising river.
The stranded teachers were subsequently evacuated as responders assessed the conditions and worked to safely move them away from the isolated area.
All 12 teachers were successfully brought out without reported injuries and transported to the MDRRMO Operations Center in Barangay Sagana, where they were provided assistance.
The rescue operation was led by personnel from the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company of the Oriental Mindoro Police Provincial Office, working with the 10th Special Action Battalion of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force, Bureau of Fire Protection-Bongabong, and the Bongabong MDRRMO Rescue Division.
MIMAROPA police regional director PBrig. Gen. Christopher R. Dela Cruz credited the rapid coordination among responders for preventing the situation from escalating.
“In an emergency, every minute matters,” Dela Cruz said, emphasizing the importance of the immediate response and coordination that brought the teachers to safety.
Rescue comes amid continuing rains
The incident highlights the dangers faced by communities in flood- and river-prone areas as heavy rains continue to affect parts of the country.
MIMAROPA has been among the regions affected by the recent weather disturbances and enhanced southwest monsoon. Earlier government reports said agencies and local governments across the region had intensified disaster-response and preparedness measures as rains triggered flooding and other hazards.
The broader weather emergency has also affected millions of Filipinos.
NDRRMC figures reported in mid-August showed that more than 4.1 million people had been affected by the combined impacts of tropical cyclones and the enhanced southwest monsoon across several regions, including MIMAROPA. The same report recorded deaths, injuries, missing persons and billions of pesos in infrastructure and agricultural losses.
DepEd likewise activated its Education in Emergencies 4H protocol amid class suspensions and disruptions caused by the enhanced southwest monsoon, underscoring the continuing challenges faced by schools, teachers and learners during severe weather.
Authorities warn of sudden river rises
For communities located near rivers, the Bongabong incident serves as another reminder that water levels can rise rapidly during periods of intense or prolonged rainfall.
In Oriental Mindoro, the danger is particularly serious for remote communities where bridges and roads can serve as the only connection to schools, homes and emergency services.
Authorities continue to urge residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert, particularly when rivers begin rising or access routes become unstable.
For the 12 teachers rescued in Bongabong, however, the immediate danger ended safely.
What began with a collapsed bridge and a rapidly rising river ended with all 12 educators safely reunited with responders—thanks to a coordinated rescue effort launched before the situation could become even more dangerous.
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