Cebu City quake damage pegged at P300 million
LAST Tuesday’s earthquake damaged P300 million worth of private and public properties in Cebu City and the cost could go higher, the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council said yesterday.
Alvin Santillana, operations chief of the city’s disaster management council, said the cost of damage doesn’t include the economic losses the city suffered because of the closure of several business establishments the past two days.
Santillana’s breakdown was based on the estimates made by City Hall offices tasked to do post disaster assessment and disaster quick response.
The amount excludes the P31.7 million in quick response operations which include the transfer of patients from Cebu City Medical Center to other hospitals and the provision of food to evacuees.
Engr. Cesar Villaflor of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-7) also reported to Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama that the 39 bridges and flyovers in the city remain passable despite the strong earthquake.
Rama earlier called for the closure of the South Coastal Road at 7 a.m. yesterday after they noticed a “gap” in the expansion joint which connects the coastal road and the viaduct.
Councilor Dave Tumulak said the gap measures about four to five inches and may affect the viaduct’s integrity.
But Engr. Nonato Paylado of the DPWH’s designs section said the expansion joint of the viaduct is designed with a 25 mm to one inch gap to make it flexible to passing vehicle loads.
Business as usual
On hearing this, Rama allowed the entry of vehicles at the coastal road. At City Hall, only employees serving frontline functions worked yesterday.
The City Council will hold their session today after canceling it yesterday to allow for repairs in the legislative building.
In the province, it was “business as usual” for the district hospitals, Integrated Provincial Health Officer Dr. Cynthia Genosalango said.
Several hospitals in the province only sustained minor cracks and continued their operations. Most patients of Jesus M. Paraz Memorial District Hospital were still placed outside.
“Daghan gyud kaayo og pasyente (They have many patients there),” Genosolango said. The district hospital has a bed capacity of 50 but is housing more than a hundred patients.
Genosolango said tents were pitched outside to accommodate the patients.
A city engineer inspected the building and cleared its first floor of patients. The second floor houses the OB and non-PhilHealth wards. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac, Correspondent Edison delos Angeles and UP-Cebu intern Victor Anthony Salva
