Chinese consul brings aid to quake-hit Davao del Sur

MAGSAYSAY, Davao del Sur — The Chinese Consul General brought aid to quake-hit localities of Davao del Sur on Friday and Saturday, in a show of solidarity to the plight of families displaced by the series of tremors that hit Mindanao since mid-October.

On Saturday, Consul General Li Lin, along with Chinese volunteer groups, went to Barangay Dolo in Bansalan, Davao del Sur to personally hand over packs of relief goods to the quake victims who are still living in makeshift tents inside the evacuation area.

Some of the 1,700 displaced families are still staying in evacuation sites which are dependent on relief assistance from civic and non-government organizations and local governments that send food packs every now and then.

Dolo Barangay Captain Erlinda de la Cerna said DSWD has provided 12 family size tents in the area for the families but majority of the evacuees are staying within the perimeter of their respective houses.

“We wanted to let them know that we are ready to face the challenge of giving relief assistance although we are inside the danger zone,” Lin said.

In two days, Chinese volunteer groups have delivered some 8,000 food packs in Digos City and in the towns of Bansalan, Magsaysay, and Matanao.

Lin said the relief assistance mainly came from four Chinese companies which were then channeled to the Chinese Consulate in Davao City.

Lin was joined by Dumper Partylist Representative Claudine Diane Bautista and Kiblawan town Mayor Jason Rama on Saturday.

The Chinese community in Davao City sent tankers loaded with potable water to augment the water supply from the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and local volunteer groups, both for drinking and bathing.

The springs and wells that used to supply water for the people in the quake-hit areas have turned murky after the quake.

From Bansalan, Lin went to Barangay Balnate in Magsaysay town, accompanied by Mayor Arthur Davin, where two evacuation camps were established to house 453 families from seven badly hit communities.

Matanao Mayor Vincent Fernandez then led the Chinese diplomat to the evacuation camp at Lower Marber where hundreds of people were also displaced by the series of temblors.

Lin counseled that building officials must be very critical with those who wanted to build structures in this part of the country knowing that it is littered with active faults.

“If the standards in the building code is being religiously followed, chances are you can be resilient to earthquakes,” Lin said.

On Friday, Lin visited Digos City and brought aid to the displaced families.

Digos City Mayor Josef Cagas officially received the relief assistance from the Chinese government through a simple turnover rites.

During his Digos visit, Lin offered to provide medical services, potable water, and construction of sewage facilities.

Meanwhile, Cagas expressed gratitude to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte for the relief assistance to the earthquake victims of the city. /je