ILOCOS NORTE – A total of 55 houses were partially damaged and 36 people sustained slight injuries here after a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Northern Philippines on Tuesday night, Oct. 25.
The initial assessment report of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) chaired by Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc also showed that one house was totally damaged, while two residents were seriously injured.
The two seriously injured whose names were not yet available at press time are currently confined at the Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital.
On Wednesday, Secretary Erwin T. Tulfo of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) assured the Ilocano community of immediate assistance.
He met with Governor Marcos Manotoc earlier on Wednesday for a situational briefing.
"I already instructed our social welfare officer na mag-payout this afternoon. May naka standby naman kami na P20 million cash at 10,000 na food packs para sa Ilocos Norte so we are ready, we are prepared," Sec. Tulfo said.
The DSWD head said the cash assistance will be immediately released to owners of these partially-damaged houses.
Meanwhile, both teams of DSWD and PDRRMC will also proceed to certain areas in Pagudpud and Adams to monitor the situation of communities affected by the recent onslaught of Typhoon ‘Neneng’ and Tropical Depression ‘Obet.’
Gov. Marcos Manotoc has urged the provincial board to declare another state of calamity in the province, this time due to the recent earthquake.
"I asked the Sangguniang Panlalwigan to also declare another state of calamity para lang clear kasi ibang calamity na ‘to even though we are still in a state of calamity from ‘Neneng’ and ‘Obet,’ said Gov. Marcos Manotoc.
“Pero kailangan klaro na itong state of calamity ay dahil po sa earthquake," he added.