Quake-hit Davao de Oro town declares state of calamity

TENT HOMES Officials of the health and social welfare departments on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, check on the families who evacuated from their quake-affected homes in Nabunturan, Davao de Oro. As of March 10, more than 4,000 families have yet to return home, and about half are sheltered in evacuation centers. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH-DAVAO REGION

DAVAO CITY — The New Bataan town of Davao de Oro province has placed itself in a state of calamity due to massive damage from the series of quakes that rocked the Davao region since March 6.

In a resolution passed on Wednesday, the municipal council of New Bataan noted the widespread damage to private properties and public infrastructure due to the tremors.

As of Friday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) counted 2,040 families from 12 villages of the town who remain displaced from their homes. Of them, 396 families were staying in 13 evacuation centers while the rest are either with relatives or setting up makeshift shelters outside their homes.

The quakes destroyed 454 houses in the town and damaged 1,759 others, the NDRRMC said.

READ: Series of earthquakes displaces hundreds in Davao de Oro

Seismic activities

Citing data from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, the NDRRMC said that as of 7 a.m. on Friday, there were 1,278 quakes recorded in New Bataan, of which 30 were felt by people. These quakes ranged in magnitude from 1.5 to 5.9.

The count of seismic activities started at 12:49 a.m. on March 6 when a magnitude 4.9 tremor struck the town, which was followed by a magnitude 5.3 quake at 4:43 a.m.

On March 7, at 2:02 p.m., a magnitude 5.9 temblor rocked the town, followed by a magnitude 5.6 quake at 4:47 p.m. These quakes triggered landslides in Maragusan, Nabunturan and New Bataan towns.

According to the provincial disaster risk reduction and management office, about 37,088 families from across the province were “directly affected” by the quakes.

READ: Two strong quakes, 3 hours apart, rock Davao de Oro again

Aid had poured for the thousands of affected residents. Vice President Sara Duterte sent over 1,000 relief boxes to quake survivors in New Bataan and Maragusan towns, according to Vice Gov. Jayvee Tyron Uy.

These relief boxes contain mosquito nets, hygiene and dental kits, pairs of slippers, masks, and disinfectant alcohol.

On Friday, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian visited evacuation centers in Nabunturan, Maragusan, Maco, and New Bataan and handed out relief boxes to evacuees.

Neighboring local governments also helped. Mayor Leonel Ceniza of Pantukan town sent 677 food packs and 103 gallons of drinking water to evacuees at Manat village in Nabunturan.

The quakes damaged some 207 public infrastructure and facilities throughout the Davao region—147 in Davao de Oro—all estimated to be worth some P51 million.

—FRINSTON LIM

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