Marcos brings aid to quake-hit Davao Region
MANAY, DAVAO ORIENTAL—President Marcos on Monday assured thousands of families in Davao Region affected by the twin strong earthquakes last Friday that the national government will see through the recovery of their devastated communities.
“We will not get out of here until your situation gets back to normal, although not exactly as when the quake did not yet happen,” the President, in a mix of English and Filipino, told local officials who briefed him of their localities’ situation, along with several members of the Cabinet.
Mr. Marcos made this pronouncement after setting foot in Davao Region, the home turf of his close political ally-turned-nemesis Vice President Sara Duterte, to provide assistance to the communities affected by the recent “doublet” earthquakes in Davao Oriental.
The President flew to Davao Oriental’s capital, Mati City, and also visited the towns of Tarragona and Manay on Monday to personally check on the status of the families in the province affected by the magnitude 7.4 and 6.9 earthquakes that struck hours apart on Oct. 10.
“The President is not afraid to go to Davao, because the people of Davao are our fellow Filipinos, and they are the ones who need help right now,” Palace press officer Claire Castro said in a briefing at Malacañang on Monday.
“This should not be politicized to try to scare the President from visiting Davao. Our President will not be afraid to go to any region of our country because he is the President, and he will help all our fellow Filipinos who are in need,” she added.
Despite the animosity between President Marcos and Vice President Duterte, Castro described the Davaoeños to be “kindhearted” to their fellow Filipinos, adding, “We know that they have the heart and that they recognize the people who truly help them.”
Better shelters
Prior to the situation briefing in Tarragona, the President visited various quake-affected sites in Davao Oriental, such as the Davao Oriental Provincial Hospital in Manay town, which is now practically operating under tents, as its buildings were destroyed by the violent tremor; and the Manay National High School, whose buildings are under safety assessment due to huge cracks.
While doing the rounds in one of the tents pitched at the Tarragona municipal hall grounds, Mr. Marcos observed that those occupying the temporary shelters had to endure the heat, hence the families stay ed outside during daytime.
He said that owing to the huge number of families who were left homeless when their houses were destroyed, the “tent city” would be a faster way to provide them shelter.
“We have the tent city but we will change the tent city into modular shelters, which are stronger, more comfortable,” the President said.
Initially, Davao Oriental will get 150 modular shelters, which will be installed on Friday and will be ready for use by Monday next week.
Mobile kitchens
The President said that after he listened to the report of the Office of Civil Defense, which placed the number of people affected by the doublet quake at 250,000, he thought of mobilizing mobile kitchens to help them meet their food needs.
“This is what we can see as the necessary support we are going to give, as I’ve said we will send the mobile kitchens. So, [while] we are providing meals from the mobile kitchens, we will also give P10,000 for those whose houses were destroyed,” he added.
The beneficiaries of the financial assistance, he hoped, can buy materials and begin to rebuild their homes.
On Monday, Mr. Marcos also handed some P258 million in financial aid to the local governments so they can fund initiatives that address needs peculiar to their localities.
He said that he knew this, being a former governor. “Some may need to fix their water supply, others may need to have roads reopened.”
Davao Oriental Gov. Nelson Dayanghirang, in a report to the President, said the earthquake, which struck off Manay town, affected 166,834 families and left three persons dead and 232 others injured. The assessment of the damage to infrastructures has yet to be completed, but initial reports tallied 503 houses destroyed, while another 8,055 houses were damaged, he added.
The President allocated P50 million for the Davao Oriental provincial government and P10 million to its capital, Mati City. P15 million each was provided to the towns of Manay, Banaybanay and Lupon; while P10 million was distributed to each of the municipalities of Tarragona, Baganga, Boston and Cateel. The towns of Caraga and San Isidro also got P5 million each, while the Governor Generoso town received P3 million.
Financial assistance was also given to the following local government units: P20 million to Agusan del Sur province; P15 million each to Davao City and the provinces of Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao Occidental, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Islands.
President Marcos also ordered the Department of Budget and Management to release local government support fund to the provinces affected by the earthquakes and directed the Department of Public Works and Highways to tap on its quick response fund to support the repair of damaged buildings.
