By Brian Campued
Following the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to provide immediate relief to families and individuals affected by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Cebu late Tuesday, various agencies have fully mobilized to ensure a whole-of-government approach in quake-hit areas.
In a statement Wednesday, Marcos Jr. assured the public that agency heads are working to oversee provision of assistance, search and rescue operations, assessment of damages, and restoration of essential services.
“Buong puso akong nakikiramay sa mga pamilyang nawalan ng mahal sa buhay, at kasama sa aking mga dasal ang kaligtasan ng mga nasugatan at lahat ng naapektuhan ng lindol,” the President said.
“Nasa mga apektadong lugar na po ang ating mga Kalihim upang magbigay ng tulong at suriin ang pinsala mula sa lindol at mga aftershock,” he added.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is assessing the integrity of roads and bridges to ensure continuous flow of relief to affected areas. DPWH Sec. Vince Dizon, who was in Masbate with the President, said DPWH personnel are also focused on clearing the roads as part of its response.
“Meron tayong mga reports na nakuha na may mga roads na nag-crack so we have to really assess first and then quickly act on them para maging passable lahat ng roads… for goods to come in, for relief to come in,” Dizon said.
The Department of Energy (DOE) directed all energy sector stakeholders to immediately inspect and assess any damage to their facilities and prioritize the swift restoration of power in affected areas.
Energy Sec. Sharon Garin also ordered a 60-day price freeze on 11kg liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanks and kerosene across Cebu to protect families from “undue financial strain and ensure continued access to these essential fuels during the recovery period.”
“The DOE, together with the Department of Trade and Industry and local government units, will strictly monitor retailers and distributors to prevent overpricing and profiteering,” the DOE said in a statement.
The Department of Health (DOH), for its part, is ready to deploy the Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Team (PEMAT) in Cebu to establish temporary hospital tents where surgeries, consultations, as well as laboratory and diagnostic tests can be conducted.
The National Center for Mental Health will also deploy a psychosocial team to address mental health needs of quake survivors.
The DOH will also provide additional supplies to its regional office in Central Visayas, including emergency medical kits and first aid kits, family kits, face masks, vitamins and multivitamins, maintenance medicines, and oral rehydration salts.
DOH Sec. Teodoro Herbosa earlier ordered the immediate deployment of emergency medical response teams from Cebu City to Bogo City, the epicenter of the earthquake.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), meanwhile, said it will shoulder the burial expenses of the casualties of the powerful quake. According to Asec. Irene Dumlao, the agency will also provide P10,000 cash aid for the bereaved.
In an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Deputy Administrator for Administration, Asec. Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, said there are about 69 reported fatalities from the temblor, but the said figure is still “subject for validation and verification.”
Dumlao said the DSWD Field Office 7 (Central Visayas) is now “accounting the number of casualties and their location” and that their “social workers will talk to the concerned families to inform them that the DSWD will shoulder the burial expenses of their loved ones.”
To support the relief and medical operations, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) deployed two of its vessels, the BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Sindangan, to Bogo City. The vessels ferried doctors, nurses, and medical personnel from PCG as well as ready-to-eat food packs from the DSWD FO7.
Cebu has been placed under a state of calamity to allow the provincial government to quickly mobilize its resources, extend immediate assistance to affected families, and implement rehabilitation efforts.
-jpv
