By Erika Mae P. Sinaking, A reporter
At least 19 people died and 12 were missing after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit the southern Philippines on Monday, triggering a tsunami warning and sending residents scrambling to higher ground, the disaster agency said.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that 16 deaths occurred in Soccsksargen region, while three deaths were recorded in Davao region.
The reported deaths in Soccsksargen include 10 people in General Santos City, three in Glan, two in Tupi, and one in Malapatan, Sarangani. All reported victims are currently being officially confirmed, the agency said.
In addition to the deaths, at least 134 people were injured in all the affected districts, while 12 are still missing in General Santos City.
The earthquake struck at 7:37 am in an area 32 kilometers southwest of Maasim, Sarangani, at a depth of 33 kilometers, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).
The agency first issued a tsunami warning for coastal communities in several provinces of Mindanao, including Sarangani, Davao Occidental, and Sultan Kudarat, after monitoring stations recorded wave heights of up to 1.48 meters in Kiamba and 0.84 meters in Kalamansig.
The warning was lifted a few hours later after the sea level disturbance subsided to harmless levels.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. he ordered a “whole-of-government approach” to the disaster, directing the military and social organizations to prioritize rescue and relief efforts.
“I have ordered all relevant government agencies to take immediate action,” Mr Marcos said in a statement, urging residents to prioritize their safety over their property.
The government has suspended classes at all levels in all affected areas in Mindanao.
Labor Secretary Francis N. Tolentino also ordered a work stoppage in regional labor offices, while the Office of the Ombudsman placed its Mindanao workers under a work-from-home plan during inspections of government buildings.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said the government has enough resources to deal with the fallout, noting that P13.14 billion is available through Quick Response Funds (QRFs) and P34.23 billion from the National Disaster Reduction and Management Fund.
“According to the existing appropriations and accounting rules and regulations, agencies may request the replenishment of their QRFs when the expenditure reaches the prescribed limit of 50%,” the DBM said in a message distributed to reporters.
Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin T. Gatchalian on Monday urged the Department of Education to check the structural integrity of the school buildings.
“Immediate measures must include assessing the structural integrity of school buildings, providing psychological support, and implementing appropriate local measures to ensure continued learning,” said Mr. Gatchalian in a press release.
Senator Francis Pancratius “Kiko” N. Pangilinan separately said his office is already working with disaster agencies such as the Office of Civil Defense, the NDRRMC, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
The earthquake was felt as far away as Leyte in the central Philippines. PHIVOLCS warned that aftershocks could continue for several days to weeks in the central region.
THE BLACKS
More than 800,000 households in Soccsksargen and Davao Region also experienced power outages following the 7.8-magnitude earthquake, according to the Department of Energy (DoE).
In a statement on Monday, electricity was disrupted in areas served by South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative, South Cotabato I Electric Cooperative, Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative, Northern Davao Electric Cooperative, Davao Light and Power Co., Cotabato Light and Power Co., and neighboring areas.
After the earthquake, the DoE said it immediately contacted the National Electrification Administration, National Power Corp., National Transmission Corp., National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, electric cooperatives, distribution utilities, and power generation companies to assess the condition of power facilities and ensure a timely and coordinated response.
Damage assessments and system assessments are ongoing as electric cooperatives and distribution utilities continue to work to determine the extent of the impact, he said.
The ministry has instructed the power distribution agencies to prioritize the restoration of power supplies to critical facilities, especially hospitals and evacuation centers.
Meanwhile, it also coordinated with relevant stakeholders to monitor the readiness of the backup power systems and help ensure the uninterrupted operation of these facilities while the inspection and recovery operations are ongoing.
As of 2:30 p.m., power transmission services in General Santos City remained offline, according to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines,
“The safety of our communities and our energy workers remains our top priority,” said Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin. “Our teams work in partnership with electricity cooperatives, critical sectors, and other stakeholders in the energy sector to assess conditions and restore electrical services safely, efficiently and in a timely manner.” – with Kaela Patricia B. Gabriel again Sheldeen Joy Talavera
