SOME parts of Davao Region recorded infrastructural damage in the aftermath of a magnitude 6.1 earthquake on the evening of February 1, 2023.
In an interview with SunStar Davao on February 2, Angie Payosalan-Dela Cruz, Information Officer of the Office of the Civil Defense in Davao Region (OCD-Davao), said Davao de Oro was the most affected province as it was the epicenter of the earthquake in the region.
“We have 10 damaged infrastructure in Davao de Oro, then about a total of 245 patients are temporarily evacuated due to some observed cracks sa (at the) provincial hospital at may mga damage po like broken glass and falling debris (and there's broken glass and falling debris),” Dela Cruz said.
However, as of writing, Dela Cruz said evacuees already returned to the hospital.
She said assistance was also given by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), and the local government unit and respondents to the affected individuals.
She said there were two landslide incidents reported in Montevista, Davao de Oro on the same day at 10:15 p.m.
Meanwhile, the provincial government of Davao del Norte reported a total of 19 infrastructure minor damage in public elementary and high schools.
OCD and the Department of Public Works and Highways Davao Region (DPWH) spokesperson Dean Ortiz in a separate interview with SunStar Davao on February 2, said there were no reported road damages and all roads and bridges are passable after the disaster.
Also, Dela Cruz said there was a reported injury after a student incurred a minor sprain.
“So far 'yong lang po 'yong pina-worst (So far, that was the worst that we recorded), the rest experienced fainting or hyper-ventilating po 'yong mga students natin in Davao City and Davao de Oro (our students in Davao City and Davao de Oro) but then again na-pacify naman po natin 'yong situation since andon po agad mga responder po natin (the situation were pacified since our responders assisted right away),” she said.
She said the students fainted or hyper-ventilated because they panicked during the earthquake.
She added that the provincial governments of Davao de Oro and Davao del Norte issued a suspension of classes to thoroughly check the structural integrity of the affected establishments in the province effective on February 2.
In a separate interview on Davao City Disaster Radio on February 2, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) Head Alfredo Baloran said of the 10 reported students who have fainted, seven were from Daniel R. Aguinaldo Elementary School and three patients from Holy Cross of Calinan.
Baloran said the students regained consciousness and were later fetched by their parents on the same evening.
He added that in the aftermath of the earthquake, the city had no reported major infrastructure damage, no loss of life, and no one was injured.
He said the risk assessment team and structural engineers from the City Engineer’s Office already conducted an assessment of the City Hall of Davao, and the Sangguniang Panlungsod and found no damage, and the buildings are still suitable for occupancy.
He added the team will also conduct an assessment of the minor hairline cracks reported in Jacinto Health center and Mintal Elementary School.
Meanwhile, the Matina Crossing Overpass was closed by Barangay Matina Crossing after some cracks were seen. However, around 12 noon on February 2, 2022, the overpass was reopened to the public.
Meanwhile, Dela Cruz reminded Dabawenyos to always be prepared for disasters.
“Participate if there’s a conduct of quarterly evacuation drill because this kind of drill ma-practice po 'yong ating muscle memory just in case meron pong incident or earthquake (we can practice our muscle memory to ready us just in case there’s a disaster),” she said.
Dela Cruz said this training will help individuals to automatically respond even before, during, and after a disaster. KSD