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Friday, March 29, 2024

Xi Jinping extends sympathy to BBM over quake losses

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Chinese President Xi Jinping conveyed his country’s sympathy to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. following the devastation brought about by the magnitude 7 earthquake that rocked Luzon on July 27.

“On behalf of the Chinese government and people, and in his own name, Xi expressed deep condolences over the deaths, and extended sincere sympathies to the bereaved families and the wounded,” the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines said.

The Chinese leader also expressed his belief that under the leadership of Marcos and the Philippine government, people in the earthquake-stricken areas “will surely overcome the disaster and rebuild their homes.”

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said a total of 82,336 families, which is equivalent to 314,161 persons, were affected by the strong earthquake.

The council confirmed 357 injuries because of the quake, 355 were from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and the remaining were from Cagayan Valley.

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Several roads and bridges were also damaged at an estimated cost of P400 million as of July 29.

Some cultural and heritage sites in Abra and Ilocos Sur were also severely damaged, including centuries-old churches such as the Tayum Church and Sta. Catalina de Alexandria Church, the Vigan Cathedral, the Bantay Bell Tower, and the iconic Calle Crisologo in Vigan.

Marcos emphasized the importance of disaster-proofing communities.

In a video uploaded on his official Facebook page Sunday, Marcos vowed that his administration will ensure the immediate restoration of damaged structures.

“These were destroyed and need to be restored immediately. That’s why we must have disaster-proof planning in all the structures that we will build, including roads, buildings, heritage sites, schools, hospitals, and residential houses,” he said in Filipino.

Some 12,645 houses in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, and Metro Manila were classified as “partially damaged,” while 157 others were destroyed.

Marcos lauded the national government agencies and the local government units for their quake response efforts. He also thanked the private individuals who helped the government in assisting the victims.

Marcos stressed the need to step up disaster response and preparedness as the Philippines is located along the typhoon belt, hit by about 20 storms yearly, and the so-called “Ring of Fire,” where volcanic eruptions and earthquakes often occur.

“We are also at high risk for the effects of climate change. We are prone to disasters, that’s why we should not be lacking in preparedness” he said.

Marcos reiterated that the immediate passage of the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program, this time for senior high school students instead of the collegiate level, would help train and mobilize the youth during emergencies, including disaster preparedness and capacity building for risk-related situations.

Meanwhile, a magnitude 4.7 tremor—an aftershock of the July 27 Luzon earthquake—struck Cabugao, Ilocos Sur on Sunday afternoon, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

The tectonic quake had a depth of 2 kilometers and was felt at Intensity 5 in Dolores, Abra and Intensity 4 in Sinait, Ilocos Sur.
Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan said the President instructed the department to inspect schools and hospitals for any damage caused by the earthquake that could endanger students, teachers, patients, and health care workers.

“The President instructed us to assess other public buildings including school buildings and hospitals,” he said.

Previously, the Department of Public Works and Highways reported P491.117 million in damage to infrastructure in the Cordillera region from the earthquake.

To date, Bonoan said, only two hospitals in Abra have been restricted to the public.

“There are one or two hospitals that we have restricted people from entering because we want a more extensive technical assessment,” he said.

He said the DPWH is also coordinating with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) for the rehabilitation and restoration efforts of historical sites and structures damaged by the earthquake.

Bonoan said DPWH Quick Response Teams are currently clearing and reopening the remaining two national roads that are closed to traffic.

The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday advised the public affected by the July 27 magnitude 7 quake to continue following health protocols to avoid the spread of COVID-19 and other transmissible diseases.

The DOH said the Centers for Health Development (CHDs) together with local government units are on the ground assisting as needed.

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