DILG checks quake-hit local gov’t buildings

The DILG aims to complete the validation activity within two weeks. (PNA photo)

TACLOBAN CITY, July 28—  The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) regional office here this week deployed newly-trained engineers to Ormoc City and Kananga town to validate public buildings reportedly damaged by the 6.5 magnitude earthquake which hit Leyte and nearby provinces last July 6.

“Aside from checking the accuracy of the report, the intention is to find out if what specific agencies will provide funds to rebuild the damaged building. We have to be proactive and not just wait for orders from our main office,” said Artemio Caneja, DILG assistant regional director.

“Those structures without takers, the DILG will assume the responsibility for funding,” he added.

The submission of validated list is imperative for the central government to identify fund sources and ensure immediate completion of reconstruction projects, Caneja said.

The DILG aims to complete the validation activity within two weeks.

After super typhoon “Yolanda” struck the region in 2013, the DILG hired several engineers to review rebuilding plans of affected local government units.

“This is the same group of engineers that we have deployed to carry out the assessment.

They are not regular workers, they are contracted to work on special projects of our office,” Caneja added.

Initially, government agencies identified a total of 113 schools, 10 health facilities, 35 government buildings, and seven commercial buildings in Leyte province as badly damaged by the tremor.

The July 6 earthquake has killed at least three people and injured 310 others. Several aftershocks rocked the province in nearly two weeks. The strongest was magnitude 5.8 that injured 78 people, according to the Office of the Civil Defense. (Sarwell Q. Meniano/PNA)