DAMAGE to infrastructure and properties caused by the magnitude-6.7 earthquake in Surigao del Norte will most likely reach P1 billion even as the Department of Public Works and Highways said it would probably complete its inspection and assessment by the end of next week.
A week after the earthquake, the DPWH has assessed the damage at P700 million but said the total cost will likely hit the P1-billion mark as more buildings and establishments continue to suffer damages following a series of strong aftershocks.
The DPWH said that the total cost estimate includes the more than P103 million worth of damage from bridges and national roads, and more than P150 million for the repair of the collapsed Anao-aon Bridge in San Francisco town.
The bridge collapsed during the earthquake and is still impassable. Vehicles are being detoured to Delani Crusher in Brgy. Diaz. The Malico Bridge at Daang Maharlika Road (Lipata-Surigao Section), on the other hand, has only one lane passable to only light vehicles.
Aside from the Anao-aon and the Malico bridges, other bridges which were damaged and are now undergoing repair and rehabilitation are the Kinabutan I Bridge Daang Maharlika Road (Lipata-Surigao Section), Kinabutan II Bridge Daang Maharlika Road (Lipata-Surigao Section), Friendship Bridge Surigao-San Juan Coastal Road and the Banahaw Bridge Surigao-San Juan Coastal Road.
The Daang Maharlika Road (Surigao-Ipil-Lipata Section/Surigao-Agusan Section) suffered intermittent damaged road sections. Removal of debris and clearing operations are ongoing and heavy trucks are rerouted to Surigao-San Juan coastal road.
The other national roads, namely the Surigao-Davao Coastal Road, Magpayang Mainit Wharf Road, Surigao San Coastal Road and the Surigao Wharf Road suffered only minor cracks and are passable to all types of vehicles.
Power supply has been fully restored in the towns of San Francisco and Malimono of Surigao del Norte and Surigao City. The water supply of the town of Malimono was totally repaired but the pressure was low.
Repair is still ongoing for the Matin-ao Water Reservoir and Pipelines (Mainit town) and San Francisco Annex Water Supply (San Francisco) while the Parang-parang Source, Ima-Cananez Source and Lumaban/Balibayon Source of Surigao City are now fully restored.
The number of casualties stood at eight people and more than 200 injured.
Of the injured, 181 were outside patients, 15 were admitted in hospitals, while seven were referred to hospitals outside Surigao del Norte for a total of 203.
The earthquake affected 60 barangays; 1,790 families and 9,320 individuals.
The Caraga Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management (RDRRMC) Operations Center said it continues to monitor the effects of the earthquake and has retained its “red alert” status, including at its member-agencies.
Also, the Surigao City Council through Resolution No. 23-2017 has declared Surigao City under a “State of Calamity.”
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has reported that the quake was tectonic in origin and had a Depth of Focus of four kilometers.
Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said that DPWH district offices in the affected province has already installed warning signs and deployed personnel and equipment to conduct clearing operations and placement of filling materials on bridge approaches.
“Technical personnel from DPWH are continually conducting evaluation and assessment on national government-owned buildings, hospitals and school buildings and other infrastructure facilities,” the DPWH said.
Meanwhile, flag carrier Philippine Airlines has announced that it has started airlifting critical supplies and relief goods for the affected families and communities devastated by the earthquake.
PAL aircraft will first fly the donations to Butuan and then transport them by land to Surigao City through accredited government agencies, registered foundations by Security and Exchange Commission, non-government organizations and charitable, civic and religious groups.
The airline management said in a statement that the program, which covers airlifting of donations within the Philippines only, will fly goods on space-available basis.
