By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
On the heels of an earlier directive to ensure ‘round the clock’ efforts in the wake of the “doublet earthquake” that rocked the Davao Region on Oct. 10, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visited key areas in Davao Oriental on Monday to personally assess the damage and lead relief efforts.
At the epicenter of the twin quakes, Marcos visited the Davao Oriental Provincial Hospital-Manay District in Barangay Central and Manay National High School in Barangay Ignacio, as well as the municipal hall and evacuation center in the neighboring town of Tarragona, to look after the welfare of evacuees and hospital patients that are still reeling from the impact of the tremors.
President Marcos also inspected modular housing units that will be distributed by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) to quake-affected families and led a situation briefing to assess further government interventions that will be put in place to respond to the needs of the displaced residents.
At the briefing, Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang and Tarragona Mayor Art Benjie Bulaong presented an update on the status of disaster response efforts in the quake-devastated province.
To further support recovery efforts, the Office of the President (OP) will also provide financial assistance to affected local government units (LGUs) in Davao Oriental.
Also present during the Chief Executive’s ocular inspection were DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon.
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