Quake-hit Davao de Oro under state of calamity

Due to the severe devastation caused by the series of earthquakes that struck Davao de Oro on March 7, the province has been declared in a state of calamity.

During a special session, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan said in a resolution adopted on Saturday (March 11) that the proclamation would enable the provincial administration to promptly attend to the needs of thousands of residents affected by the earthquakes.

The Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 states in Section 21 that at least 30% of the local disaster risk reduction management fund "shall be allocated as a quick response fund or standby fund for relief and recovery programs so that the situation and living conditions of people in communities or areas stricken by disasters, calamities, epidemics, or complex emergencies may be normalized as quickly as possible."

 According to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) most recent situational assessment, the powerful quakes impacted 194,057 homes or 229,647 families.

PDRRMC stated that the recent earthquakes caused P265 million damage in infrastructure.

On March 6, a magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck Davao de Oro and nearby provinces. The following day, two powerful earthquakes with magnitudes of 5.6 to 5.9 were reported with epicenters in the town of New Bataan in the same province.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) for the Davao area reported 1,516 earthquakes at 2 a.m. on March 13. Thirty-six of these quakes were felt.

Nine evacuation facilities located in the towns of Maco, Nabunturan, and New Bataan are currently receiving potable water. Thanks to the efforts of all concerned organizations.