MANILA — In the light of the magnitude 6.5 earthquake that struck Eastern Samar on Tuesday, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade has ordered the immediate assessment of the structural integrity of all major transportation hubs such as airports, land terminals and seaports in Eastern Visayas and nearby regions that experienced seismic intensities.
Tugade directed transport officials to prioritize the safety of commuters waiting in transportation hubs, as well as thoroughly vet the integrity of facilities before resuming operations.
Initial reports from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) cited that as of 2:10 p.m. Tuesday, no injuries or casualties were reported from the airports of Ormoc, Guiuan, Borongan, Maasin, Hilongos, and Catbalogan.
There were also no reported structural damages in these gateways.
Passengers and personnel at the Tacloban Airport likewise were safe and unhurt, but minor cracks were seen on the ceiling in the arrival and check-in areas of the Passenger Terminal Building (PTB).
There was no damage on the runway, control tower, power plant, fire station and other facilities of the Tacloban Airport. There was also no standby aircraft on the ramp.
Passengers in this gateway have now returned to the PTB, and are awaiting their flights.
The DOTr said it will continue to stringently monitor compliance with the assessment protocol to ensure the safety of traveling Filipinos.
The DOTr added that it will provide updates to the public as they come.
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