By ARGYLL CYRUS B. GEDUCOS
Manila, Philippines – President Duterte allocated P2 billion in aid as he visited victims of last Friday’s magnitude-6.7 earthquake in Surigao City, Surigao del Norte yesterday.
Duterte arrived in Surigao City at past 1 p.m. to personally assess the damages from the earthquake. His party landed at the alternate airport in Butuan City where he took a presidential helicopter and conducted an aerial assessment of the effects of the earthquake.
Before speaking to the victims, Duterte met local government officials to discuss the damages and told them to prioritize helping the victims.
The Chief Executive, accompanied by some Cabinet secretaries, led the distribution of relief goods to 500 evacuees housed in the Surigao City gymnasium.
Duterte in a message thanked God that the earthquake damage to properties and the loss of lives were minimal. The President also extended financial assistance to a family whose member was killed during the earthquake.
Duterte said he will release the funds through Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo as the DSWD is the agency leading relief efforts for the victims.
He said that it will be used to purchase medicines for the victims, especially those who sustained trauma injuries during the quake.
Duterte asked the victims to accept his deepest sympathies, adding that the quake reminded him of typhoon “Yolanda,” also known as typhoon “Haiyan,” in Tacloban City three years ago.
The President recounted that after Yolanda struck the city, unidentified dead bodies scattered around. “One could not drive a vehicle on the street of Tacloban after the typhoon Yolanda because of the dead bodies,” Duterte said.
“We are still lucky as the quake is not as strong as other places. If it reached Magnitude 7, it could be worse,” he said.
Duterte ordered Secretary Mark A. Villar of the Department of Public Works and Highways to clear all the roads affected by the earthquake to ensure smooth delivery of relief goods to Surigao City.
Villar said they have allocated more than P200 million for the repair of major bridges in the province destroyed by the earthquake.
He also ordered the restoration of the power in the city after electricity was restored in most parts of the province although other areas remained in darkness. “I want power restored in Surigao City and Surigao del Norte tonight.”
Duterte apologized for the delay in government help for quake victims because of damaged roads and infrastructure.
