Gov’t utilizes P8M to aid quake victims in Davao del Sur

December 21, 2019

The government has spent more than P8 million to help the victims of recent strong earthquake in Davao del Sur.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Executive Director Ricardo B. Jalad said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) allocated a total of P8,020,069.17 for those affected by the powerful magnitude 6.9 tremor on December 15.

Report showed that P563,000.00 was allotted for the victims in Bansalan, P1,470,390.90 in Digos City, P811,270.00 in Hagonoy, P1,961,069.70 in Kiblawan, P843,129.48 in Malalag, P923,724.50 in Matano and P1,447,484.59 in Padada.

Jalad also said there were 10 barangays in Magsaysay that continued to experience water interruption while the “Digos-Makar Road remains closed due to road slop, hanging pavement, and damaged guardrails.”

“Further assessment by the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) Regional and District offices is being done to determine the extent of damages and the structural integrity of major roads, bridges, and other public buildings,” he said.

Jalad said the government has procured temporary learning centers (TLCs) for the students of the schools damaged by the magnitude 6.6 earthquake last October while “additional TLCs for the recent magnitude 6.9 will be secured after DepED (Department of Education) regional offices submitted vetted reports.”

According to NDRRMC, a total of 380 schools, 14,172 houses, 48 public structures, 25 health facilities, three roads, 14 bridges, and 90 other structures were damaged because of the magnitude 6.9 earthquake.

Report also showed that 31,988 families or 137,271 individuals were affected by the tremor that was felt in Soccsksargen and Davao Regions.

The NDRRMC still failed to give specific details about the casualty, but the report showed that the death toll has reached to 12 with 210 other victims injured and another one was still missing. Robina Asido/DMS