Quake-hit LGUs told to watch out for aftershocks

FILE: PBBM checks the condition of injured victims in a makeshift hospital in Abra. (Photo: Office of the Press Secretary/Facebook)

MANILA – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Friday called on local chief executives (LCEs) in northern Luzon to monitor their areas of jurisdiction for aftershocks and other related incidents, following Wednesday’s magnitude 7 earthquake.

“LGUs in the hard hit areas of Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley and the Cordillera Administrative Region are on top of the situation and will continue to respond to the needs of our citizens,” Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said in a statement.

Based on initial assessment by authorities, 317 houses were totally damaged while 3,177 were partially damaged by the tremor. Two private buildings were totally damaged while 49 private buildings were partially damaged.

Abalos also urged local government units (LGUs), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to mobilize response teams to help volunteer groups in the transportation of aid and relief packs.

“Moreover, help the affected find shelter either in our evacuation centers and facilitate their safe travel to the homes of relatives or friends willing to welcome them,” Abalos said.

As power interruptions continue to cut electricity in 19 local governments, one province was also reported to have experienced a mobile signal outage and one LGU experienced intermittent communication.

“Recovering from the economic losses due to natural disasters is an arduous journey that any family and LGU can go through. So we at the DILG, the PNP, the BFP, the national government and our LGUs will do our best to help affected citizens recover from this unfortunate event,” Abalos said.

On Thursday, Abalos and other government officials accompanied President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the province of Abra to assess the damage brought by the earthquake.

Joining them were Special Assistant to the President Secretary Antonio Lagdameo Jr., Department of National Defense officer-in-charge, Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr. and Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Erwin Tulfo.

Marcos personally checked on the situation of the affected individuals as he conducted a security briefing with concerned national and local officials, and led the distribution of relief goods to the victims.

According to initial reports from the DILG’s field offices, a total of 218 of the 296 LCEs were present in the affected LGUs.

“Our LGUs have already convened their respective Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Managements Councils (LDRRMCs) and have activated the red alert status,” Abalos said.