San Jose del Monte residents appeal for assistance after water tank collapse

Residents of San Jose del Monte in Bulacan on Sunday appealed to the local water district to provide sufficient assistance to the families affected by the collapse of a water tank in the area.

According to a report on GMA News' "News TV Live," Celito Bulanadi, a resident in the area, said they have not received any assistance from the San Jose del Monte (SJDM) after the collapse of one of its water tanks.

To recall, four people died while 41 others were injured on Friday morning after a water tank of the SJDM Bulacan Water District collapsed.

Bulanadi said aside from the food packs and relief goods sent by local government authorities, residents have not received any assistance yet from the water district.

"Wala pa ho silang ni isang taong namamasyal dito para kamustahin kami o paanong nangyari o paanong gagawin sa nangyari, ganyan. Kagaya ng mga nasalanta... Pero ni isa wala pa nga kaming nakikitang pumupunta rito eh," he said in a separate report on GMA's "24 Oras."

In the report, the family of one of the victims also said it has not yet received any financial assistance, and no representatives of the water district have coordinated with them.

"Sobrang sakit talaga sa akin na nalaman kong ganon ang nangyari kay papa eh. 'Di ko talaga matanggap," said James Garcia, whose father Jimmy was among the four killed in the incident.

"Hinihiling ko lang sa water district, sana sa paglilibingan niya, sana sa maayos po," he added.

The barangay has since opened its covered court to host affected residents, but families opted to temporarily move to the houses of their relatives.

GMA News has reached out to the Bulacan Water District, but no response has been received as of posting.

The water district earlier said it will shoulder the expenses brought about by the incident. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News