By The Philippines News Agency
Thousands of victims of the 7.2-magnitude earthquake which sent residents into panic Tuesday morning were gripped by nervousness and feelings of unease as night covered Bohol and Cebu, already under a state of calamity.
The anxiety has been triggered by more than 100 recorded aftershocks since the tremor jacked up at 8.12, sending hundreds out of buildings which were eventually destroyed, near the tourism-promoted Chocolate Hills in Bohol.
President Benigno Aquino III, who presided over a meeting of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council office in Camp Aguinaldo, immediately instructed all government agencies to provide the necessary assistance to the areas damaged by the deadly earthquake which has claimed, after sundown, at least 87 killed and nearly 200 injured, according to official figures.
Malacanang, which has shifted government post-quake relief and rescue operations to high gear, has directed government agencies to coordinate efforts with other government agencies in the areas for faster and more effective assistance.
The President, due to fly out to the quake-hit provinces Wednesday, said he wanted agencies to account for everyone in the disaster areas especially those trapped in buildings and isolated locations.
The President also instructed agencies to inform the people in affected areas that there’s no tsunami warning raised and tidal waves won’t affect coastal communities.
At the same time, the Dept. of Science and Technology said during the briefing that there are possibilities for sinkholes to appear, and these could threaten people and infrastructures, so the public must take extra precaution while in the disaster areas.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte told a Malacanang news briefing the President has ordered Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman to immediately address the needs of the local government units particularly in areas badly damaged by the quake, the worst to hit Bohol in 23 years.
Valte said the DSWD has allocated a standby assistance fund of P8.7- million – P5.9-million for Western Visayas and P2.84-million for Central Visayas.
The President has also instructed the Dept. of Public Works and Highways to inspect the resiliency of the structures and establishments in areas jolted by the quake to avoid further accidents.
“Ang instructions po sa akin ng Executive Secretary ay ulitin po ito sa inyo para matulungan niyo po kaming madala ng mensahe sa mga kababayan natin doon. Iwasan po muna natin ‘yung mga damaged structure,” Valte said.
“Ang DSWD po ang magpo-provide ng mga tents doon sa open spaces, while the structures are being checked by the DPWH, as well as the Local Public Works Office of the local government units,” she added.
Valte added the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police have been deployed to help in the rescue operations.
She also gave assurances the Dept. of Transportation and Communications has been overseeing the clearing operations in several airports such as Mactan International Airport and Tagbilaran City Airport to avoid disruption of flights.
The Dept. of Health has also activated hospitals in Western and Central Visayas as well as the hospitals in Metro Manila in case additional manpower will be needed.
Several buildings and the region’s stone churches, including the country’s oldest Catholic church in Cebu which had a collapsed bell tower, were destroyed – blotting out in the process the region’s, and the country’s, religious heritage.
Also damaged were roads in the two provinces, the hardest hit, making some highways impassable following landslides.
Also damaged were the Cebu-based offices and buildings of the Department of Education and Department of Trade and Industry.
Officials also said the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office in Boljoon, Cebu had been totally defaced by the tremor.
Also crushed was the Cong. Castillo Memorial Hospital in Cebu.
Meanwhile, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman said the DWSD has ready food provisions and tents for the nervous victims, many of whom are in open areas still in fright by possible aftershocks.
She said tents were needed because many people were afraid to go home with the threat of additional aftershocks.