DISPLACED. Some families from the coastal villages of Digos City prefer to live in these tent shelters in Barangay San Jose after their houses were destroyed by a series of earthquakes that hit Mindanao last month. The city government said the tremors affected at least 130,000 individuals. (PNA photo by Eldie S. Aguirre)
DIGOS CITY -- At least 130,000 individuals here were affected by a series of strong earthquakes that struck Mindanao the last 15 days, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) confirmed on Saturday.
Gil Gubat, CDRRMC action officer, said the local government is now working hard to address the basic needs of the people including those families whose houses have been totally damaged by the tremors in over 26 barangays (villages).
He identified the coastal villages of Dawis, Cogon, Sinawilan and Aplaya Kapatagan as well as Balabag and Kapatagan near Mount Apo as among the severely-hit by three strong earthquakes on Oct. 16, 29 and 31.
In Kapatagan, sitio Marawer has over 100 houses that sustained major damages while residents in sitio Bandera in Balabag were forced to sleep in makeshift tents after the quakes destroyed their houses.
Meanwhile, residents in the coastal villages opted to stay in various evacuation centers since the first 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck about 60 miles southwest of Davao City on Oct. 16 after fake tsunami news circulated in social media.
Gubat said the CDRRMC has so far assessed about 70 percent of residential houses and buildings.
"There may be structures that we considered slightly damaged during the Oct. 16 quake but many have crumbled to the ground when the second and third blow hit them again," Gubat said.
Mayor Josef Cagas said the city has been providing immediate assistance to the quake victims to help them recover as soon as possible.
This after he noticed that some individuals have been going directly to the incident command system (ICS) post asking for relief assistance and food packs despite instructions to register first at their respective barangays.
“I understand their predicaments. If they are already here, we have to provide what is available so that they could pass the day with a full tummy," Cagas said.
He thanked the Philippine Red Cross-Davao del Sur Chapter for providing potable water to the affected residents while the city’s Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) supplies water for washing and bathing purposes.
Cagas also urged private individuals who wanted to donate foods to coordinate with the City Social Welfare Development Office (CSWDO) “so that the distribution will be in order and it will really go to the real victims”.
At least 60 people sought medical assistance due to minor injuries they sustained following the third 6.5 magnitude tremor that hit Cotabato province on Oct. 31, or two days after the second 6.6 magnitude struck the same area in the southern Philippines.
City Engineer Salvador Dumogho said one of two employees of 3F Happy Shoppers was brought to the hospital for treatment of head injuries after the two were trapped inside the store during the Oct. 31 quake.
He renewed his call not to allow any cleaning and retrieval of goods inside the structures deemed to be unstable.
"We don't care if there are perishable goods inside those buildings. Let it rot rather than seeing someone crushed to death while trying to retrieve those goods for human life is more precious than any kind of merchandise," Gubat said. (PNA)
