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Disaster response continuing in quake-affected areas

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Philippines
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Govt. Philippines
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By Joey Dalumpines

DAVAO CITY, Nov. 5 (PIA) The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) in Davao Region moved fast in responding to communities hardest hit by the earthquakes that occurred on the 16th, 29th and 31st days of October, 2019, respectively.

Based on the latest situational report from the RDRRMC XI as of Tuesday, November 5, 2019, a total of 130 people has been noted injured, six dead and two missing in the region mostly in Davao del Sur.

The report said there were 120 injured, six dead and two missing in Davao del Sur. Nine persons were also injured in Davao City and one in Davao del Norte.

A total of 135 school buildings were damaged in Davao Region, of which one school building totally damaged in Davao Occidental, 31 school buildings partially damaged in Davao City, 95 school buildings partially damaged in Davao del Norte, five in buildings Compostela Valley and three school buildings in Davao Occidental.

The RDRRMC XI also noted the damage of a total 42 buildings wherein 13 were partially damaged in Davao City, 21 buildings in Davao del Norte and seven buildings in Davao Occidental and only one building was reported to be heavily damaged in Davao City which was the Himeji Building of the Ecoland 4000 at Ecowest Drive. It still assessed the total number of damaged buildings in Davao del Sur, the hardest hit in the region.

A total of four bridges were also noted to have been partially damaged of which one bridge was from Davao City, three bridges from Davao Del Sur. Four roads were also partially damaged in the course of the three earthquakes in Davao del Sur.

On the damage houses, the RDRRMC XI also monitored a total of 2,722 families equivalent to 13,600 persons who lost their homes, particularly in Davao del sur.

The earthquakes also displaced internally, a total of 1,191 families or equivalent to 4,764 individuals.

The RDRRMC XI has exerted more effort to reach out to more communities in the region by sending food packs, stress debriefing teams, search and rescue units, water, and tarpaulins since the disaster struck side by side with response agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development XI. the Department of Health XI and the Office of Civil Defense XI.

As of ten o’clock in the morning today, two thousand family food packs were delivered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development XI to the incident command posts in Bansalan, Davao del Sur and Digos City, Davao del Sur of which every command post received 1,000 FFPs each.

Earlier, the Philippine Coast Guard Medical teams also deployed in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur in coordination with the Department of Health XI to conduct psychological stress debriefing.

The Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Fire Protection XI also conducted search and rescue activities on two missing persons, namely Gilbert Superales and Miggy Attic, using the PCG K-9 Unit in Barangay Upper Bala, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur.

The Bureau of Fire Protection XI also facilitated the delivery of water to the affected areas with an average of 240,000 to 280,000 cubic centimeters to Digos City, Bansalan, Magsaysay and Matanao.

Three fire trucks from Kapalong, Panabo, Davao del Norte and Padada, Davao del Sur were deployed in Magsaysay, with one generator set and 32 personnel.

Earlier the day, Manuel Luis M. Ochotorena, director of the Office of Civil Defense XI and chair of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management XI ordered the conduct of damage assessment and needs analysis (DANA) in the affected areas namely, Matanao, Magsaysay and Bansalan in Davao del Sur with the representatives of the DSWD, NEDA, DILG, BFP, NHA, MGB, DPWH, DEPED AND DOH.

He also cited the need for a daily operational briefing at the Emergency Operations Center, close coordination with the RDRRMC member agencies and stakeholders and the close monitoring within the area of responsibility. (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)