Mindoro towns persevere despite rumbling 5.9 magnitude quake
MANILA, Philippines – It was business as usual in some quake-hit towns in Mindoro on Wednesday despite the region and neighboring areas rattling by a magnitude 5.9 earthquake.
The quake struck the waters off Lubang in Occidental Mindoro at 4:23 p.m. on Tuesday.
Lubang and tourism hotspot Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro reported to have felt the shaking at Intensity V (strong).
READ: 5.9 magnitude quake shakes Luzon
Despite the temblor and subsequent aftershocks, the towns’ mayors said that they were able to continue normal operations in their municipalities without any hindrance.
“Tuloy lang po ang pasok natin dito sa munisipyo. Ang mga estudyante po ay may pasok. Nasanay na rin po kami sa mga ganitong pagyanig maliban na lang po kapag sobrang lakas. Pero sa ganito po, back to normal po ulit,” Mayor Michael Orayani of Lubang said in an interview with Radyo 630.
(We continue our operations here in the municipality. Students have classes. We’re already accustomed to these tremors except when they’re exceptionally strong. But with this one, things are back to normal again.)
Just some tiny fissures in structures
Orayani noted that despite hairline cracks in several buildings, the municipality emerged unscathed from major damage.
“Iyong iba po ay siguro dahil sa kalumaan, or ‘yung structure ay hindi gaanong katibay, ay pumutok lang po. Minor damage lang po,” he said.
(Perhaps for some, it’s due to the old age or the structure not being that strong, which caused it to crack. It’s just minor damage.)
The mayor added that the Lubang municipal government also did not order its residents to evacuate.
However, Orayani reminded residents in his town not to be complacent since fault lines surround Lubang.
“We emphasize extra caution and always remind them to be prepared at all times. Aside from conducting earthquake drills, we also conduct tsunami drills,” he said.
He also emphasized that maintaining the robustness of structures should always be a priority to withstand earthquakes.
Meanwhile, in Puerto Galera, tourist destinations were undamaged, the town’s mayor reported.
“Based on validation and according to all barangay captains, there [has] been no reported damage, especially in our tourist destinations,” Mayor Rocky Ilagan said, also in an interview with Radyo 630.
“So far, tourists need not worry, as the places you want to visit in Puerto Galera are very safe,” he continued.
The Puerto Galera LGU likewise did not suspend classes and work in its local offices.
Ilagan said they anticipate approximately 3,000 tourists to spend their long weekends at Puerto Galera.
/abc
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