Work and classes were suspended in Masbate following a 6.0 magnitude quake that hit the province early morning of Thursday, Feb. 16, and resulted in a province-wide power outage.
Asst. Sec. Raffy Alejandro IV, spokesperson of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), said the move is part of the safety measures as local authorities are conducting assessment on establishments and other infrastructures as part of the protocol.
Based on the initial assessment, the tremor resulted in the power outage in Masbate and Ticao Island.
"There were no major damage reported as of reporting time," Alejandro said in a statement issued at 7 a.m.
But he said patients of the Masbate Provincial Hospital were transferred to tents outside as part of the safety protocol. He added that there were no injured patients.
Seismologists said the epicenter of the quake was located 11 kilometers southwest of Batuan town of Masbate.
Intensity VII, classified as destructive, was felt in Masbate City while intensity V was felt in Dimasalang, San Fernando, and Uson in Masbate.
The tremor was also felt in other parts of Bicol region and as far as Eastern Visayas and, Marinduque, Quezon and Negros Occidental.