The Office of the Vice President (OVP) will begin assessing the extent of damages brought by the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that hit the northern Philippines on Wednesday, July 27, saying that its six satellite offices will become “channels” to expedite the distribution of aid to the affected areas.

Currently, the OVP only provides medical and burial assistance, but its spokesman Reynold Munsayac said that the six satellite offices earlier established by Vice President Sara Duterte will also do their part in delivering aid and social services.

“Pero kaya rin sila andiyan pag may mga ganitong pangyayari na kailangan ng assistance ng isang community sila na rin magiging channel ng OVP sa paghahatid ng tulong (But that’s also why they are there when there are incidences like this and a community needs assistance, they are going to become the channel of the OVP in delivering aid),” Duterte’s spokesman told reporters.

“So i-e-explore ng mabuti kung ano iyong pwedeng dalhin sa kanila lalo na sa mga communities na naapektuhan ng lindol (So, we will explore well what we have to bring to them, especially to the communities affected by the earthquake),” he added.

The OVP’s satellite offices are located in Dagupan, Cebu, Tacloban, Zamboanga, Davao, and Tandag in Surigao del Sur.

Munsayac reported that the Vice President and concurrent Education chief was in a meeting this morning with the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines (COCOPEA) but she might check the developments of what happened in the areas where the earthquake was felt.

Citing the impact of the magnitude 7.0-earthquake in the northern provinces of Abra and Vigan, the spokesman said that they’ll have to decide on the “next steps” the OVP can take to help those in need.
READ: Strong Abra quake damages Vigan Cathedral, Bantay Bell Tower in Ilocos Sur
Asked if Duterte will visit affected schools to check on the facilities and buildings there, DepEd spokesman Michael Poa said an assessment will be made first.

“We are still assessing the situation, but I will give you (an) update kung mag-ikot (if we will go around) and assessment on damages to our schools nationwide once we get it,” he said.

Although the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOLCS) recorded the earthquake in Abra province this morning, the impact was also felt throughout Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

The strong tremor badly damaged buildings in Northern Luzon, and triggered landslides. People had to evacuate buildings, while the rail services in Manila had to be stopped.