President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is considering to visit Abra and other areas in Northern Luzon that were jolted by a magnitude 6.4 earthquake on Tuesday night, Oct. 25.
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Chairman Jose Faustino Jr. said the earthquake, previously measured at magnitude 6.7, did not have a big impact on Abra based on the results of their initial rapid damage and needs assessment (RDANA).
“It’s a good thing that based on the RDANA, the reports that we are receiving right now, hindi ganoon kalaki ang damage (the damage is not that big),” Faustino told reporters in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija on Wednesday, Oct. 26.
“I think right now, we have scheduled activities and I think the President will consider visiting those areas,” he added.
According to Faustino, the number of injured individuals in Abra has increased to 10. So far, there is no report of any fatality.
Capt. Rigor Pamitan, spokesperson of the Philippine Army’s 5th Infantry Division (5ID), said five of the injured persons came from the municipality of Lagayan; three from San Juan; and one each from Daguioman and San Quintin.
Some 52 families composed of 182 individuals from Lagayan, San Juan, Daguioman, and San Quintin were also displaced by the quake and temporarily residing in evacuation centers or makeshift tents outside their homes.
There were also at least 47 damaged houses in Lagayan, Tineg, San Quintin, and Tubo towns all in Abra. The historic Tower Belfry of Iglesias Filipina Independiente Church in Lapaz, Abra was also damaged although the extent was still being determined. Meanwhile, damage to the Pulot National High School in Lagayan, Abra was also being verified by the NDRRMC.
“Ang malungkot dito, we are still trying to conduct relief efforts sa ibang tinamaan ng bagyo at sumabay nga itong lindol (What’s saddening here is we are still trying to conduct relief efforts in some areas that were hit by typhoon and then the earthquake happened.) Nevertheless, as I said our regional DRRM offices are on top of the situation,” Faustino said.
“We’re praying hindi na madagdagan ang reports kaninang umaga (We’re praying that the reported earlier will no longer increase),” he concluded.