Batanes church bell silenced by earthquake, officials cry over devastation

No bells tolled for the nine townsfolk of Itbayat, Batanes who perished in the quake that struck on Saturday.

The century-old historic bell of the Santa Maria de Mayan Church was gone.  The belfry of the church was among the structures that sustained heavy damage in the series of quakes over the weekend, according to a report by Bam Alegre on GMA News' State of the Nation with Jessica Soho.

The church, built in 1853, used to ring its bell whenever a town resident dies. This time, with nine fatalities due to the seismic activity, the bell was silent.

A holy mass was held in evacuation tents on Monday morning to uplift the spirits of the affected residents.

The wake of three victims was being held at the evacuation area in Itbayat Plaza where an estimated 2,000 affected residents temporarily take shelter.

A state of calamity has already been declared over Batanes.

Authorities initially pegged the cost of damage at P47 million.

President Rodrigo Duterte, who visited the town on Sunday, ordered the release of P40 million to start the rehabilitation.

"I'll give you the P40 million.  I hope you put it to good use.  It will give you a small clinic," he said.

Local officials cried upon seeing the devastation in the province.

Batanes Rep. Ciriaco Gato was in near tears when he met with the residents.

"Dito ako lumaki, tapos nakita mo yung devastation, yung paghihirap ng kababayah natin, ang hirap pigilin ng emotion, but I hope we can do something about it," he said.

Batanes Governor Marilou Cayco said she was saddened by the deaths of her provincemates.

"Nung typhoon Ferdie hindi ako naiyak, pero dito naiyak ako dhail marami hong namatay, maraming nasaktan, maraming nawalang bahay," she said.

Residents said their homes have endured the strongest typhoons that battered the province every year, but they lament they were no match when the earth briefly shook that Saturday afternoon. —Dona Magsino/LDF, GMA News