The Office of the Civil Defense-Davao (OCD-Davao) bared that the decision to declare a State of Calamity status in the earthquake-affected towns in Davao Region is up to the local government units (LGUs).
On November 17, a strong quake struck some areas in the southern part of Mindanao including Davao City.
“Nasa LGU po ang desisyon na magdeclare ng state of calamity based on the guidelines. Ongoing naman din ang assessment nila especially Davao Occidental,” it said.
The earthquake of tectonic origin was felt in different areas in Davao Region: intensity 5 in Pantukan in Davao de Oro, Tagum City in Davao del Norte, and Jose Abad Santos (JAS) in Davao Occidental; intensity 4 in Magsaysay,,Davao del Sur and Davao City; intensity 3 in Laak and Nabunturan in Davao de Oro; and intensity 2 in Maco and New Bataan in Davao de Oro.
Based on the data of OCD-Davao, the quake has affected 32 families or 174 individuals in Davao City while 20 families or 99 individuals in JAS. However, one casualty was recorded in JAS.
For the damaged houses: two were partially damaged in Sarangani; one totally and 16 were partially damaged in Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental; 19 were partially damaged in JAS; and one was partially damaged in Lupon, Davao Oriental.
OCD-Davao also shared that the damage to government infrastructure are the following: 29 in Davao Occidental, eight in Davao City, four in Davao del Sur, one in Davao del Norte, and one in Davao de Oro.
Based on the latest update of OCD-Davao on November 19, 2023, for Davao Occidental there were 85 aftershocks recorded with a magnitude ranging between 1.4 to 4.3.
On Monday, the OCD-Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (OCD-RDRRMC) conducted an information education campaign (IEC) for Walk the Fault activity at Mapalad Gym, Barangay Pequeño, Catalunan Grande.
The activity was staged in collaboration with OCD-Davao, the regional office of the Department of Science and Technology-Davao (DOST-Davao), Davao-CDRRMO, and DOST-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS).
Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte personally visited the earthquake-affected areas in Davao Region and Saragani Province over the weekend.
The vice president went to the house of a resident who died after getting hit in the head by an iron post at the BMJ Gas Station in Glan, Sarangani Province.
She also went to Sarangani Provincial Hospital in Glan to personally check the condition of individuals who sustained injuries due to the earthquake.
The vice president also dropped by the Sarangani Provincial Hospital in Alabel to personally check the condition of an injured victim then she went to Villa Funeral Homes in General Santos City to pay her last respect to three victims. Two of the victims died after a concrete fence fell over their house and the other one, a worker who died after being hit by a mall’s roof that collapsed.
Duterte said she welcomed the opportunity to be fully involved in the disaster response, not only as designated caretaker while the President is on a working trip abroad, but also because having personally experienced the trauma of a strong earthquake in Davao last 2019 and having experienced as an executive the need to see first-hand the assistance sought by the victims of a disaster.
“Malalim ang kalungkutan na nadarama natin sa pagkawala ng mga buhay at sa lahat ng pinsalang dala ng nangyaring lindol. Ipinapaabot ko ang aking taos-pusong pakikiramay, at namigay rin tayo ng tulong pinansyal sa lahat ng mga pamilyang kasalukuyang humaharap sa mga hamong dala ng disaster,” she said.
