Death toll in Davao quakes climbs to 8

MANILA, Philippines — The number of fatalities in the magnitudes 7.4 and 6.8 earthquakes that struck Manay in Davao Oriental last week increased to eight yesterday.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the number of injured people remained at 403 with no one reported missing.

The quakes displaced 200,914 families in Davao and Caraga regions. Up to 3,176 families are staying in eight evacuation centers.

The NDRRMC said the estimated damage to infrastructure reached more than P100.2 million, mostly in Davao region.

Meanwhile, the number of reported fatalities in the magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Cebu remained at 75 and the injured people at 559.

The NDRRMC said the quake displaced 212,246 families and damaged up to 100,464 houses in several areas in Central Visayas.

The NDRRMC and the Office of Civil Defense gave assurance that the government is continuously providing assistance to affected communities in Davao and Cebu as well as neighboring areas.

Modular shelters

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), in partnership with the private sector, have started establishing modular shelter units for quake victims in San Remigio, Cebu.

The DHSUD said two private companies sent additional workers who helped install modular shelters in the “bayanihan village.”

“The deployment of additional workers was necessary to expedite the installation of modular shelters for displaced families,” the agency said.

As of yesterday, at least 45 modular shelters had been installed by the workers.

The DHSUD said similar shelters would also be set up in Bogo City and in the towns of Daanbantayan and Medellin, which were also severely affected by the quake.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling has mobilized a team to determine the exact assistance needed by quake-affected local government units in Davao Oriental.

Aliling said modular shelters will also be set up in “bayanihan villages” in the province.

TUPAD program for quake victims

To provide immediate assistance to workers in Davao Oriental displaced by the magnitude 7.4 earthquake, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is implementing the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program in the region.

The DOLE said up to P28 million has been allotted for the 10-day emergency employment of 5,450 quake-affected workers.

Of the total number of beneficiaries, 4,950 are residents of Davao Oriental while the rest are from Davao City, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental.

Of the P28 million allotted for the program, P2.58 million will be used to pay beneficiaries in other parts of the region.

DOLE-Davao chief Randolf Pensoy said the rest of the fund would be utilized for workers in Manay, the epicenter of the temblor.

Pensoy said the beneficiaries would be tapped for debris segregation, materials recovery, stockpiling, clearing operations and waste management.

“By providing temporary income and livelihood, we can help quake victims recover while contributing to the restoration of their communities,” Pensoy said. – With Elizabeth Marcelo, Mayen Jaymalin