Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday visited earthquake-stricken areas in northern Cebu to personally assess the damage and bring comfort to families affected by the powerful 6.9-magnitude tremor that struck the province Tuesday night.
Duterte went to Bogo City and Medellin, where she extended her condolences to grieving families and assured continued government support for those who lost their homes and belongings.
“Pinapaabot namin ang pakikiramay sa mga pamilya ng mga namatayan at ang aming suporta sa mga nawalan ng bahay at ari-arian,” she said in an interview.
Videos released by her office showed the vice president consoling bereaved families, speaking with hospital patients, and engaging rescue personnel.
“Bumisita kami sa disaster center nila at kinausap namin si Mayor. At ang sunod namin ay kaninang umaga sa Bogo. Merong mga nakaburol — merong nakaburol na mga patay doon sa Bogo, so, binisita din namin yun. At binisita din namin yung mga ibang mga kabahayan na yung mga tao ay natutulog sa labas ng kanilang mga bahay at nasa daan sila at sa mga highway natutulog dahil sa takot. At binisita namin yung dalawang patay sa San Remigio, yung dalawang nakaburol doon. Ngayon, narito kami sa isang barangay din sa Bogo para bisitahin yung mga biktima ng landslide. Dito, may mga namatay din at ang kanilang pamilya,” she said.
Duterte underscored the urgency of restoring essential services, particularly electricity and water, which remain cut off in many areas.
“Lahat ng mga lugar ngayon walang kuryente, kaya hindi makapagbukas ang mga negosyo at hindi rin makabalik ang mga tao sa kanilang mga bahay. Dahil walang kuryente, wala ring tubig. Ito ang dalawang pinakamahalagang pangangailangan nila ngayon,” she explained.
The Vice President also stressed the importance of psychosocial intervention for quake survivors.
“Napakahalaga ng stress debriefing sa mga tao dahil takot sila lahat sa nangyari, nagulat sila lahat sa nangyari at takot sila na bumalik sa kanilang mga bahay. Maram sa kanila ang bigla na lang umiyak at marami sa kanila ang nagsasabi na, hindi nila alam kung ano ang bigla nangyari. So dapat meron stress debriefing yung mga tao para mailabas nila yung mga nararamdaman nila at takot nila. So yun,” she said.
Duterte further called for educating residents on checking their houses for structural safety to prevent further harm from strong aftershocks.
“Turuan yung mga tao paano mag-assess sa mga bahay nila, kung structurally sound pa ba yung bahay, o kailangan ayusin para hindi siya maapektuhan sa mga aftershocks dahil napakalakas din yung mga aftershocks,” she said.
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) has distributed food packs, drinking water, hygiene kits, and other essentials to affected families in Medellin, San Remigio, Bogo, Tabuelan, and Tabogon. She also directed OVP satellite offices in Panay-Negros and Eastern Visayas to augment local relief operations.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that the death toll from the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck northern Cebu has risen to 72, on Thursday, as aftershocks continue to jolt the region.
NDRRMC stated that of the fatalities, 30 were recorded in Bogo City and 22 in San Remigio.
NDRRMC added that the powerful quake, which hit late Tuesday off the northern coast near Bogo City, also left 294 people injured and forced about 20,000 residents to flee their homes, and nearly 600 houses were destroyed, with many survivors now sleeping in the open as hundreds of aftershocks rattle the area.
