RELIEF AID. The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of Koronadal City, headed by Mayor Eliordo Ogena (in photo), decides to send an initial PHP200,000 in emergency financial assistance to neighboring localities devastated by the three powerful earthquakes on Saturday (Nov. 2, 2019). It allotted some PHP150,000 for North Cotabato and PHP50,000 for Davao del Sur. (Photo courtesy of the City Information Office)
KORONADAL CITY -- The city government has allocated an initial PHP200,000 in emergency financial assistance to neighboring localities that were devastated by three powerful earthquakes in the last three weeks.
City Mayor Eliordo Ogena said they will send this week at least PHP150,000 in cash assistance to North Cotabato and PHP50,000 to Davao del Sur to augment the ongoing relief operations for residents affected by the quake.
The financial aid was approved by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC), which was convened by the mayor on Saturday.
Ogena said they saw the need to deliver immediate assistance to the neighboring provinces even as the city was also affected by the three major tremors and the continuing aftershocks.
The local government recorded one fatality and over a hundred injured as a result of the magnitude 6.3 quake on Oct. 16, magnitude 6.6 on Oct. 29 and magnitude 6.5 on October 31.
The three quakes, with the epicenters traced in North Cotabato, were felt as high as Intensity VI in the city.
“We’re pooling our available resources to help our neighboring localities,” Ogena said.
On Thursday, the city government sent its search and rescue team to North Cotabato to assist the emergency operations in the area.
During the meeting, council members discussed updates on the ongoing structural assessment being conducted by building officials and engineers on government and private buildings as well as other vital structures around the city.
Ogena, who heads the CDRRMC, earlier instructed the City Engineer’s Office (CEO) to inspect and assess large structures like malls, school buildings and government offices.
The mayor called for another council meeting Sunday (Nov. 3) with members of the local school board, school officials and the CEO to determine the status of affected school buildings and if there is a need to cancel classes on Monday. (PNA)
