Davao Occidental town under state of calamity after 7.8-quake
BOTTLED water for earthquake victims in Davao Occidental. (FB)
DAVAO CITY – The Municipal Council of Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental declared a state of calamity on Tuesday following the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that triggered landslides and killed seven residents.
In an interview on Wednesday, Mayor Jason John Joyce said local authorities are conducting damage assessments, response, and relief operations in affected communities.
"I am very sad to announce that we have confirmed seven casualties, seven missing, and 25 injured. The majority of casualties are due to landslides," Joyce said in a television interview.
Families with damaged houses have received relief goods in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Davao (DSWD-11), he added.
"Aside from the damaged houses, our roads were also affected by landslides," Joyce noted. The national highway connecting various barangays has become impassable, and half of the barangays are still without power after utility posts were toppled.
DSWD-11 announced on Wednesday that it has started delivering cash relief assistance to the families of the seven confirmed fatalities.
"This morning, personnel of the DSWD-11 Davao Occidental Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) and Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU) traveled to JAS to personally deliver P20,000 per bereaved family," the agency said in a public post.
The aid is part of the government's immediate intervention to ease the financial burden of affected families, alongside psychosocial support and other services. DSWD-11 continues to coordinate with local governments and other agencies to ensure prompt and orderly delivery of assistance. (PNA)