Quake-hit North Cotabato under state of calamity

MANILA, Philippines - The entire province of North Cotabato has been placed under a state of calamity due to the magnitude-5.7 earthquake followed by a series of aftershocks that hit the province over the weekend.

The provincial board of North Cotabato made the declaration upon the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC).

Cynthia Ortega, action officer of the PDRRMC, said that the declaration would allow the immediate rehabilitation of damaged infrastructures, including school buildings, houses and barangay halls.

The PDRRMC has pegged the total damage of the earthquake at P75 million. Ortega said the figure may still go up as the evaluation of the damaged properties continues.

Ortega said at least 300 houses were damaged or totally destroyed during the earthquake. At least eight persons were also reported injured.

She said hundreds of residents, mostly elders and children have to undergo stress debriefing to be conducted by the Department of Health.

As a precautionary measure, Ortega said that the provincial government has reduced the allowable tonnage of vehicles allowed to pass through Jutian and Upian bridges.

She said cargo trucks above five tons and buses are "strictly prohibited" from passing through the two bridges.

Meanwhile, classes in elementary and high school levels in the entire province also remain suspended.

“Very dangerous, we have recommended the demolition of schools which suffered major cracks and collapsed walls, so classes remained suspended,” said Romelito Flores, North Cotabato Assistant Schools Division Superintendent.

Flores said that Gov. Emmylou Mendoza, the concurrent PDRRMC chairperson, has ordered the construction of temporary learning centers (TLCs) within the school premises.

She said that at least 60 TLC are being constructed in all villages in Carmen town, where the earthquake's center was traced last Saturday.

The Phivolcs has monitored at least 200 aftershocks and the strongest was detected early Monday, measured at magnitude-5.7.

The earthquake was felt strongest at Intensity 7 in Carmen town and felt at Intensity 5 in Matalam town and Intensity 4 in the towns of President Roxas, Midsayap and Arakan in North Cotabato and in Tacuring City, Sultan Kudarat province.