Manila  - A town health centre collapsed Wednesday in the western Philippines, trapping four people inside the bungalow, a provincial police chief said.

The health office was located at the foot of a mountain in Taytay town in Palawan province, 600 kilometres south-west of Manila, Senior Superintendent Aurelio Trampe said.

He said the building collapsed after tons of soil from the mountain fell on it.

Demetria De Luna, officer in charge at the nearby district hospital, said the soil from the mountain slope must have softened from days of heavy rains.

"There was a riprap at the back of the health centre to protect it from falling debris, but huge chunks of soil fell on the building and it collapsed," she said by telephone.

De Luna said about 100 rescue workers were digging through the rubble in a bid to save the four people, one of whom was believed to be a patient. (dpa)