"Day of Prayer" for earthquake victims

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – Still reeling from the devastation wrought by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake last February 6, the City of Guihulngan has set a special “Day of Prayer” on Friday to honor those who perished and are still missing in the worst disaster to hit Negros Oriental in decades.

As least 39 people, including those buried in landslides, specifically in Barangay Planas, or died of other circumstances during the earthquake, were reported dead, as certified by the Civil Registrar, said Councilor Jessica Villarmente.

An estimated 28,000 families are said to have been displaced by the powerful temblor that ravaged that northern city, although these figures have yet to be validates, Villarmente added.

The special “Day of Prayer”, while not officially declared a holiday by the local government, will be highlighted by a Holy Mass at the Roman Catholic Church on Friday morning. This will be followed in the afternoon by other churches that will hold an ecumenical service at 3 o’clock in the afternoon at the city gymnasium, according to the lady councilor.

Prayers of thanksgiving for the survivors and for guidance and deliverance from the sad state that Guihulngan is currently facing will also be offered.

During the earthquake and its aftermath, nine churches were totally or partially damaged in different villages in Guihulngan City. These include the Roman Catholic Patron House, the Philippine Independent Church, and the Seventh Day Adventist Church in the city proper (totally damaged); the UCCP in the Poblacion, the Philippine Independent Church and the Roman Catholic Church in Hilaitan, the Philippine Independent Church in Hibaiyo, and the Baptist Church in Poblacion (partially damaged), and the Latter Day Saints Church in Poblacion, with minor damage, a report from the Guihulngan PNP showed.

Of the total 39 dead in Guihulngan, 17 were children with ages ranging between one and 17 years old, while the rest were adults and elderly, the report showed. Further, 22 of the casualties had perished in the landslide in Barangay Planas, Guihulngan. Others died after they were hit by falling concrete walls or debris. 

The number of missing persons could not be determined yet considering the differing parameters set by the local and national governments.

A report from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council as of March 6 had said that a total of 58 people had died following the quake of tectonic origin. Of this, 24 deaths were reported in Guihulngan City, 15 in La Libertad, ten in Jimalalud, three each in Tayasan and Ayungon, two in Manjuyod and one in Bindoy.

At least 60 people were still missing, majority of them believed buried under the rubble in major landslides in Planas, Guihulngan and Solongon in the nearby town of La Libertad.

Authorities had early on placed the total damage to government buildings and infrastructure, as well as houses damaged at 80 percent of the Guihulngan population of some 103,000, a police report showed.

Guihulngan officials and residents are scrambling to recover from the devastation as government agencies, both local and national, and non-government and private organizations continue to pour in relief aid to the worst quake-hit area in Negros Oriental.

Councilor Villarmente disclosed that authorities are now moving on to the rehabilitation phase, starting with the distribution of G.I. sheets and nails to families whose houses were totally damaged by the earthquake.

To date, the total amount of destruction and the corresponding costs needed for the rebuilding of Guihulngan City could not yet be ascertained as authorities continue to assess, re-assess and validate information reaching their offices, she added. - THE FREEMAN