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Palace suspends gov’t work in NCR after 6.1-magnitude quake

By Azer Parrocha

April 23, 2019, 8:10 am

MANILA -- Malacañang suspended work in government in the National Capital Region (NCR) on Tuesday, after a 6.1 magnitude earthquake rocked Zambales and other parts of Luzon on Monday afternoon.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has recommended the suspension of work to diminish the load of public transport.

Panelo said President Rodrigo Duterte has also ordered all governors of affected provinces to assess the damage caused by the quake in their respective provinces.

“Per Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea as recommended by the NDRRMC and in order to ease up the load of the public transport system, work in government in the National Capital Region is suspended on 23 April 2019,” Panelo said in a statement.

“The President has directed the Governors of the affected provinces to assess the damage sustained by their respective localities and take the necessary measures to ensure public safety,” he added.

Panelo assured the public that the government, through the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology and concerned agencies, are closely monitoring the situation.

“We assure our people that concerned agencies of the government are already responding and assisting those in troubled conditions and shall continue to do so for as long as necessary,” Panelo said.

He said that first responders from the NDRRMC, Office of Civil Defense, Philippine National Police, and affected Local Government Units, and other related agencies, are cooperating and coordinating on the ground to look after citizens’ needs.

The Departments of Transportation (DOTr) and Energy (DOE) are also on full alert to respectively address issues on disruption of transportation services and power supply interruptions, he added.

On Monday afternoon, the DOTr said that railway systems in Metro Manila have suspended their operations.

"Upon NDRRMC's advice at around 5:42 p.m. to not resume operations, instructions were relayed to LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3 not to resume operations until further notice," DOTr Assistant Secretary for Communications Goddess Hope Libiran said in a text message to reporters.

Panelo also asked the public to remain calm, vigilant, and refrain from spreading disinformation on social media, which may cause undue alarm, panic and stress to many people.

“We call upon our citizen's innate Bayanihan spirit and request their cooperation, patience and understanding in this time of need,” Panelo said.

Meanwhile, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), chaired by Duterte, rescheduled its campaign in Bataan on Tuesday night.

“The PDP LABAN has decided to reschedule the campaign rally in Bataan tomorrow due to the recent earthquake that struck parts of Luzon,” the ruling party said in an advisory. (PNA)

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