FOLLOWING the 6.4-magnitude earthquake that hit Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental 11:44 p.m. on Sunday, September 6, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Davao Region reminded Dabawenyos to duck, cover and hold but to also not forget the presence of the coronavirus.
Residents of Davao City felt the Intensity 4 tremor Sunday night.
“Di pasabot na naga-focus ta sa Covid-19, di na mahitabo ang paglinog. Natural disaster siya. Wa tay control ana. The only thing na laban nato ani is to be prepared always (It doesn’t mean that we’re focused on our fight against Covid-19 that earthquakes would not happen. That’s a natural disaster. We do not have control over it. Our only defense is to be prepared always),” said OCD Davao Region Information Officer Angie Payosalan in a virtual presser organized by the Philippine Information Agency Davao Region Monday, September 7.
Payosalan reminded Dabawenyos that even before the earthquake, Go Bags containing essentials must be prepared so it would be easier to grab when in need.
“Duck, cover, hold and cover your mouth. Dili nato gusto na kung mag-evacuate man ta, magtinakdanay kita (We do not want to spread or have the virus should we need to evacuate),” added Payosalan, who also said that the presence of the virus around us must not be forgotten as well.
She said the traditional practice of duck, cover and hold must be done properly but that the covering of mouth and nose must also be added to that practice.
The city mayor also said it pays to be prepared for natural disasters that cannot be predicted like the earthquake.
“Dapat andam ta pirmi sa pinaagi sa drills, pagreview sa unsa atong dapat buhaton in the event of an earthquake (We should always be prepared through drills and review what should be done in the event of an earthquake),” she said.
Meanwhile, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio revealed that although there were a few buildings in the city that got cracks after the earthquake, it was not serious enough to condemn and close the establishments.
In the same way, no tsunami alert was declared following the strong earthquake.