Batanes quake survivors still in need of food, water, relief items

MANILA, Philippines  – Residents and survivors of the earthquakes and aftershocks that rattled  Itbayat,  Batanes last Saturday are still in need of food, water and tents, Batanes Rep. Ciriaco Gato Jr. said Monday.

SURVIVORS Lola Yayo, 101, eats rice porridge at the tent city put up for survivors of Saturday’s earthquake in Itbayat, Batanes. —NATHAN ALCANTARA

Gato, who represents the lone district of the northernmost province, also said their residents need plastic mats, as well as portable toilets or portalets.

“Ang kailangan na kailangan ngayon ay ‘yung supply ng pagkain at saka tubig at saka kailangan pa namin ng more tent kasi hindi pa lahat ng mga tao ay nabigyan ng tent,” Gato said.

“Kailangan pa rin namin ng higaan lalo na ‘yung banig na plastik… kasi umuulan din eh… so ‘yung ordinaryong banig ay di pwede dahil natatagusan,” he added.

Batanes folk, Gato said, have been staying in makeshift shelters and tents at the town plaza due to continuous aftershocks.

A magnitude 5.4 quake struck  Itbayat at 4:16 a.m. on Saturday and was followed by a stronger magnitude 5.9 quake at 7:37 a.m.

The earthquake left nine people killed and 60 others injured.

Gato said around 900 households were affected.

UPDATE: 9 dead, 60 injured in Batanes quakes

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier committed P40 million for rescue and medical assistance in the province.

READ: Duterte commits funds to quake-hit Batanes

Gato said it may take months or even a year before the situation in Itbayat normalizes. /gsg