VP Binay visits quake-hit areas

CEBU, Philippines - A day after the visit of President Aquino, it was Vice President Jejomar Binay’s turn to visit quake-stricken Cebu and Bohol as the death toll from Tuesday’s powerful earthquake hits 161 yesterday.

While Aquino snubbed the City Hall and went directly to the Capitol, Binay visited the city and met with Mayor Michael Rama, his local ally under the United Nationalist Alliance.

From the airport, Binay went directly to the Basilica del Sto. Nino, whose bell tower collapsed while a mass was ongoing when the 7.1 magnitude quake struck Tuesday morning.

With Binay were his daughter Senator Nancy Binay and Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian. They were received by Rama and Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella.

Also around was Gatchalian’s best friend, Cebuano businessman Glenn Soco.

Fr. Jonas Mejares, rector of the basilica, showed government officials around, recounting the quake’s huge effect to the centuries-old church.

Mejares said Binay handed him an envelope of cash assistance but said he has yet to determine the amount.

Binay said the assistance was from his own pocket and not from his office.

“Personal na tulong ko po yan para sa rehabilitation ng simbahan. Pabahay lang po ang maitutulong ng ating opisina. Para sa mga nasiraan ng bahay lalo na yung kinuha sa pamamagitan ng PAGIBIG, kasama natin ang PAGIBIG officials kung saan pwedeng makatulong sa pamamagitan ng multipurpose loan, calamity loan,” he said.

He reiterated that the financial assistance from the National Housing Authority to the quake-stricken homes is in the form of housing materials worth P5,000.

The assistance would be released through the city government’s Division for the Welfare of the Poor, Binay said.

From the Basilica, Binay went to Cebu City Medical Center where his group inspected a temporary site of the city-run hospital inside the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) 7 compound.

The vice president and his group then inspected the damaged CCMC building.

Speaking at the Cebu City Hall Command Center, Binay assured that the national government is giving assistance to those affected by the quake, which claimed lives and damaged infrastructure.

His entourage then left for Bohol to assess affected areas there.

“We assure the people of Bohol and Cebu that your government will provide all the help you need to rebuild your lives,” posted via Binay’s official Twitter account @VPJojoBinay. 

Not damaged

Meanwhile, Ayala Center Cebu clarified reports indicating that its establishment was “damaged” by last Tuesday’s quake.

Jeanette Japzon, corporate communications manager of Cebu Holdings, Inc., said “Ayala Center Cebu was certified as ‘structurally safe and stable’ after the inspection.”

Japzon added that the mall resumed operations last Wednesday.

Death toll increased

The death toll from the quake that struck Central Visayas Tuesday morning rose to 161 as rescuers recovered more bodies in Bohol, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) said yesterday.

 In its 5 p.m. report, the NDRRMC said 149 of the fatalities were recorded in Bohol, 11 in Cebu and one in Siquijor.

 It also reported that 21 more people remained missing in Bohol and 375 more people were injured.

 The agency added that the affected population has increased to over 671,000 families or at least 3.4 million individuals, who are not staying in several evacuation centers in Bohol and Cebu provinces.

 A total of P179.15 million worth of damaged roads, bridges, and flood control structures was reported in the two provinces.

 The Department of Public Works and Highways said a total of 31 bridges were either partially or totally damaged by the quake in the two provinces.

 Of the number of bridges, 18 were impassable, three were only one-lane passable while 10 are already passable.

 Seaports, airports, churches, public buildings, hospitals and private establishments were also damaged in Cebu, Bohol, Iloilo and Negros Occidental.  (FREEMAN)