Cebu placed under state of calamity, suffered infra damage after deadly quake

Metro Manila, Philippines - The provincial government of Cebu declared a state of calamity on Wednesday, Oct. 1 due to the destruction brought by the powerful magnitude 6.9 quake.

The strong tremor, with a depth of five kilometers, hit Bogo City, Cebu on Tuesday night.

“The provincial government, through Governor Pamela Baricuatro's Executive Order No. 57 and a resolution passed by the Provincial Board this morning, has placed the Province of Cebu under a state of calamity,” the Cebu government posted on social media.

The declaration of a state of calamity will allow the local government to tap its emergency funds for response. A price freeze on basic commodities will also be imposed.

The Department of Education said over 16,000 schools were affected by the quake, with nearly 200 classrooms sustaining minor damage, 26 with major damage, and 34 were completely damaged.

Meanwhile, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts is coordinating with other cultural agencies “to develop emergency protocols for the conservation and protection of National Cultural Treasures and other important cultural properties affected by the disaster.”

Based on National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council data, at least 26 were reported dead while 147 were injured.

Around 1,000 individuals, meanwhile, have evacuated, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).

“May mga aftershocks pa kaya marami pa po ang ayaw pa bumalik sa mga bahay nila until and unless ma-assess lalo na sa Bogo City. But sa Cebu, medyo bumabalik na sila, ‘yung dito sa south kasi ongoing na ‘yung assessment,” OCD Assistant Secretary Rafaelito Alejandro IV said.

[Translation: There are still aftershocks that is why many residents do not want to return to their houses until assessment has been conducted, especially in Bogo City. But in the southern part of Cebu, some are returning home already.]

The OCD said they are prioritizing search and rescue operations.

It is also working on the restoration of power and ensuring the integrity of roads, bridges, and schools while assessment is ongoing.

“Naka-genset pa po ‘yung mga hospitals natin doon sa [Hospitals are operating using a genset in] northern Cebu,” he said.

Rescuers, Alejandro said, are challenged with unstable communication.

The OCD assured that immediate assistance such as food packs and water were delivered.