Batanes quake left P292 M infra damage – DPWH

MANILA, Philippines – The killer earthquake that jolted Itbayat, Batanes last week damaged an estimated P292 million worth of infrastructure, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported.

CRUMBLING Sections of a decades-old Ivatan stone house in Itbayat crumble amid intense ground shaking when strong earthquakes struck on July 27. —ARNEL COMAYA / CONTRIBUTOR

In a statement, DPWH said that most of the damaged structures are located in Barangay San Rafael (P103.36 million, 269 totally and partially-damaged structures).

“As of latest damage assessment of the DPWH which was conducted from July 29 to 30, 2019, the estimated P292 million covers the damage of 978 residential, public building, roads, and slope protection structures in Barangays Sta. Lucia, San Rafael, Sta. Rosa, Sta. Maria, and Raele,” the department said on Wednesday.

“A total of 195 structures in Barangay Sta. Maria also incurred damage costing roughly P81.94 million, covering damage to: 191 residential structures costing P32.70 million; four (4) public buildings costing P49.27 million,” it added.

In Barangay Sta. Rosa, infrastructure damage was pegged at P69.35 million.  It also 20 meters of slope protection (P1.26 million).

“Barangay Sta. Lucia with 164 damaged residential structures costing P19.95 million and two (2) public buildings costing P5.36 million,” DPWH said.

“Barangay Raele reported the damage to 104 affected structures costing P11.60 million.”

Last June 27, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake jolted Itbayat, followed by a magnitude 5.3 earthquake southeast of the town and left nine people dead and scores of others injured and traumatized.

READ: (UPDATE) 5.3 magnitude quake jolts Batanes

Over 230 mild and strong aftershocks have since recorded.

READ: Quake disturbs Itbayat, Batanes anew

On Thursday morning, August 1, 2019, a magnitude 4.0 quake / aftershock pestered Itabayat anew, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported. /gsg