Earthquake Victims Will Receive P2-B Government Assistance From President Duterte
P2 billion was ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte to be given to the earthquake victims in Surigao City, who currently needed assistance from government.
Last Friday (February 10, 2017), Surigao Del Norte had been struck by a strong 6.7 magnitude earthquake, which took the lives of at least 6 people and injured about 202 people. The incident also caused the residents to stay on the streets for their own safety.
The region and other areas of Mindanao has also experienced few aftershocks after the quake. The city officials said that the quake devastated thousands of homes and leave the residents almost hopeless.
Surigao were consisting a population of 152, 000 were experiencing almost 130 weaker earthquakes every year, according to a state seismology office record. There were no additional damage or casualties reported after the quake.
The president expressed his sympathy for the quake victims in Surigao. He also apologized for the apologized for the delay of the government assistance due to the damaged roads and closed airport due to earthquake.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will received the P2 billion assistance to purchase medicines for the treatment and medication of injured and traumatized victims.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said that energy biscuits, blankets, mosquito nets, solar lamps, and generator sets were brought by the president together with militaries during his visit.
Mr. Duterte apologized again because the government assistance could not reach all affected areas in the province and he couldn’t stay longer due to the weather but he promised that he would return.
During the president in Surigao City, the power was immediately restored in 54 barangays. The school damage in the province was estimated at P7.6 million. Mining firms in Surigao had also joined the relief and rescue operation to help the quake victims.