Marcos vows assistance to Mindanao earthquake victims

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday said all necessary assistance will be provided to the victims of the 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Mindanao.

Marcos made the statement during his visit to General Santos City to personally monitor the conditions of the earthquake victims

“Mayroon tayong – lahat ng assistance, pangangailangan ng mga inabutan, ‘yung mga nawalan ng bahay, yung mga mangingisda, yung mga injured – lahat ‘yan patuloy na magbibigay ang [Department of Social Welfare and Development] ng assistance,” he told reporters.

(The DSWD will provide all the assistance to those who were affected like those who lost their homes, fishermen, and injured individuals.)

Due to the threat of aftershocks, Marcos said the government cannot start the rebuilding of damaged infrastructures yet.

Nine people were reported dead in the earthquake, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council when a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Davao Occidental Friday last week. 

The epicenter was located 05.48°N, 125.16°E - 034 km N 88° W of Sarangani Island (Davao Occidental) at a depth of 72 km.

PHIVOLCS initially put the earthquake's magnitude at 7.2.

Five deaths were reported in Sarangani, three in South Cotabato, and one in Davao Occidental.

In addition, 30 individuals were reported to have suffered injuries.

A total of 41,818 people or 8,903 families in 113 barangays in Davao Region and Soccsksargen were affected by the earthquake.

The earthquake damaged 4,623 homes—4,025 partially and 598 totally—as well as 252 infrastructures.

A state of calamity was declared in Glan, Sarangani.

Assistance worth P24,154,773.57 was provided to the victims so far, according to the NDRRMC. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News