Davao City vows aid to quake-hit Batanes

THE City Government of Davao pledged to help the earthquake-hit province of Batanes, an official said.

Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) chief Alfredo Baloran said Monday, July 29, that the City Mayor's Office is communicating with his office for the possible assistance to be given to Batanes.

Baloran said they are still awaiting the declaration of "state of calamity" in Batanes as it is one of the bases of the local government's assistance.

Although the amount has not yet been determined, Baloran said the city mostly provides financial assistance to neighboring and far-flung provinces highly-devastated by natural calamities such as typhoons and earthquakes.

Last April, the city donated P1.5 million in several areas in Cebu affected by the dry spell.

Earlier this year, the city also allocated P10 million for financial and food assistance to local government units struck by Typhoon Usman.

Under the Local Government Code of 1991, as amended by Republic Act 7610, local government units are authorized to allocate their financial resources to calamity affected areas, with the approval of their respective local legislative council.

Meanwhile, Baloran said sending and deploying relief goods and rescue personnel to Batanes is not possible at the moment due to the impact of the earthquake.

"Naa silay airport didtoa, pero it cannot cater to large aircrafts. Di gani makaland ang C-130 nga maoy magdala sa relief goods (They have airports there, but it cannot cater large aircrafts. The C-130, which carries the relief goods, cannot even land there)," he said.

But he said the city will find ways and means to deliver the necessary help Batanes needs.

"Ready ato personnel mutabang. Kita naman na every calamity na mangahitabo sa Pilipinas, on time nga nagahatag og hinabang ang siyudad (Our personnel are ready to help. Right from the very start, it's been us who's been there in times of calamity here in the country. Our assistance has been on time)," Baloran said.

Two separate earthquakes hit Batanes last Saturday, July 27. One was a magnitude 5, and the other one is magnitude 5.9.

As of Monday, July 29, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has reported nine deaths and 63 injured.

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