Surigao quake death toll climbs to 8

MANILA, Philippines - The number of fatalities in last Friday’s magnitude 6.7 earthquake in Surigao City has risen to eight, disaster officials said yesterday.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) spokesperson Romina Marasigan said, however, only four have been confirmed and identified by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

She added the number of the injured remained at 202 with 140 of them already identified.

The NDRRMC’s report as of yesterday morning said 17 remained confined at the Caraga Regional Hospital, Surigao Medical Center, Miranda Family Hospital and the Malimono District Hospital.

Marasigan said the number of damaged homes also remained at 1,034, with 155 considered destroyed and 879 partially damaged. Classes remained suspended in Surigao City.

Estimated damage to public infrastructure in the province of Surigao del Norte has been placed at P108.450 million.

Damage to roads amounted to P14.250 million and to bridges, P89.2 million. The Caraga Regional Hospital sustained P5 million in damage.

Marasigan said relief operations continue, with C-130 aircraft helping in the delivery and distribution of relief goods.

Additional water purification and filtration systems have been sent to affected areas where supply of potable water had been disrupted.

She said the filtration equipment can make even water drawn from rivers potable. In addition, aqua tablets were being also being distributed in affected areas.

“The water system of Surigao City and neighboring municipalities San Francisco, Malimono, Mainit and Sison has been severely damaged and because of this, people are having a very difficult time accessing water for their daily needs,” Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said.

“The Department of Social Welfare and Development is formally asking for donations to buy water for Surigao residents,” she said in a statement.

“We are accepting cash donations with which we will buy water sourced in Butuan,” she said.

“Local social welfare and development staff and officers are working in close coordination with LGU (local government unit) officials to set up a system of distribution for donations for earthquake victims. We would like to emphasize that all the assistance that is being provided by the DSWD and the national government are not limited to beneficiaries of the 4Ps program,” she added.

“Again, we appeal to our LGUs and barangay officials to help the DSWD deliver what assistance we have for our earthquake-affected kababayans as quickly and efficiently as possible. We should not let anything hinder the delivery of aid to those who need it. Let us work together to ensure that no one who is in need of assistance is turned away or denied help,” the social welfare chief said.

“We need to continue the provision of relief assistance to the citizens of Surigao, and this includes water. There is no way that people can function well and survive without a steady supply of water for drinking and for other household needs. Filipinos who want to help our kababayans in Surigao can donate cash to the DSWD and we will immediately purchase more drinking water which we will distribute to communities,” Taguiwalo said.

Marasigan said teams from the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers are in Surigao along with engineers from the Department of Education (DepEd) to help check damage to infrastructure.

“They’re eyeing the setting up of temporary learning centers. We don’t want classes disrupted so we’re looking at these as alternative classrooms,” she said in Filipino.

“Only 20 percent of the water supply from Surigao City Water District was operational,” said Ramon Gotinga of the Surigao del Norte Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. Supply of electricity was still erratic, he added.

As rescue and relief operations continue, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno urged  LGUs and affected citizens to stay strong.

“Be strong, Surigao del Norte. We will not forsake you. The national government will be with you every step of the way until you rise up from the rubble,” he said. 

Sueno said the DILG has deployed a total of 169 Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel to help in relief operations. Of these personnel, 85 came from the Surigao City Police Station, 45 from the Provincial Public Safety Company, 14 from the Regional Public Safety Battalion and 25 from the Surigao del Norte Provincial Police Office.

The DILG secretary said Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) personnel have also been mobilized to assist in the relief operations.

P200-M damage

In Surigao del Norte, damage to national roads and bridges reached P200 million, said Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Karen Jimeno.

She said P103 million is needed for the repair of damaged roads and bridges, while another P115 million is needed to repair the Anao-aon Bridge in San Francisco municipality.

In an interview over Balitanghali, Jimeno said that they have repaired the affected bridges, three of which have temporarily opened to light vehicles. 

Last Saturday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) sent 150 of its personnel and two of its ships, the BRP Pampanga and BRP San Juan, to Surigao del Norte to deliver goods, especially potable water.

“We are also planning on assigning Coast Guard doctors and PCG Auxiliary-member doctors on BRP Pampanga so we could convert the ship into a floating hospital,” PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade visited affected areas over the weekend accompanied by PCG Northern Mindanao district commander Captain Leovigildo Panopio.

“The maritime activity in the area was not affected by the earthquake. The pier remained intact and there were no reported missing fisherman,” Balilo added.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC), for its part, said it has distributed at least 70 pieces of family tents and more than 2,000 blankets in affected areas.

“Our sympathy goes out to Surigao City. During these tough times, we assure that aid and proper responses are delivered immediately,” said PRC chairman and Sen. Richard Gordon.

 Ceasefire

Meanwhile, the New People’s Army (NPA) in Northeastern Mindanao has declared a unilateral ceasefire in earthquake-affected areas in Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Norte to allow the smooth relief and rehabilitation operations in the disaster-struck communities.

Ariel Montero, spokesman for the NPA regional command in Northeastern Mindanao, said the declaration of temporary ceasefire is the rebel group’s response to the emergency in the aftermath of the earthquake that struck late last Friday in the areas covered by NPA Front 16. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Ben Serrano, Alexis Romero, Jose Rodel Clapano, Mayen Jaymalin, Sheila Crisostomo, Rainier Allan Ronda, Non Alquitran, Evelyn Macairan