CEBU—Cebuanos are now appealing for prayers as rescuers race against time to save trapped civilians from collapsed buildings on Wednesday following the magnitude-6.9 earthquake that jolted Cebu and other parts of Visayas on Tuesday evening.
President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos has ordered government agencies to mobilize resources and provide immediate relief to affected cities and municipalities, particularly Bogo City, which was the epicenter of the quake.
Cebu governor Pamela Baricuatro already signed Executive Order No. 57 that placed the entire province under a state of calamity to facilitate stronger disaster relief operations after several cities and municipalities sustained massive damage with Bogo City registering the highest death toll.
Latest death toll released by the Office of Civil Defense raised the confirmed fatalities to 69 with Bogo City at 30; San Remigio, 22; Medellin, 10; Sogod, 1 and Tabuelan, 1. At least 147 individuals were also injured from the quake.
Baricuatro is currently in Bogo City, where she established a joint operations center, leading relief and emergency efforts by providing food, medicine, and equipment not only for the city but also for neighboring towns affected by the earthquake.
The governor has also set up a temporary command center at the Capitol to coordinate with national agencies, including the Office of the President, ensuring a streamlined emergency response.
“I call on the local government executives to be proactive and attend to your people and their needs. We are not yet safe from the earthquake and its aftershocks and storm surge. Let’s continue to be vigilant,” Baricuatro told her fellow government officials last night.
Capitol Piso Health Consultant Dr. Nikki Catalan and Provincial Administrator Ace Durano led the advance team while Baricuatro conducted an aerial inspection over northern Cebu with the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD).
Classes from all levels in the province have been suspended. For the safety of Capitol employees, office work and services are also suspended until further notice.
Assistant Provincial Administrator Aldwin Empaces said the structural engineer from the Provincial Engineering Office will assess the Executive Building and all other structures inside the compound.
Medical teams and relief aid arrive in Bogo City
Medical response teams are now in Bogo City to deliver immediate assistance to affected residents. Among those deployed included the Sotto Trauma Team led by Dr. Aquino; Provincial Health Office (PHO) Team led by Dr. Arsenal; Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) led by Dr. Don Rosello.
Additional medical teams are arriving within the next hours from Argao District Hospital, Barili District Hospital, and Ricardo L. Maningo Memorial Hospital (Camotes). The neighboring Province of Bohol will also send medical staff to support Cebu’s operations.
Meanwhile, South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo, Jr. has confirmed to Governor Baricuatro that relief goods, hygiene kits, and a medical team are already on their way from General Santos City to Cebu.
The Cebu Provincial Government continues to coordinate with partner provinces and agencies to ensure timely aid and medical support for the people of Bogo and other affected areas.
The Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported that the earthquake not only damaged key infrastructures, but also triggered widespread power outages across several towns and cities, including Asturias which experienced blackouts due to transformer explosions.
Bogo City and the towns of Carmen, Catmon, Daanbantayan, San Remigio, Sogod, Tabuelan, and Tuburan remain affected.
Telecommunications are also reportedly down in Bogo, Daanbantayan, and San Remigio. At least 52 passengers were stranded in Carmen and Consolacion due to disrupted transportation, the report said.
The quake also caused surface cracks, bridge damage, and structural collapses in multiple areas, including Bogo City, where several key structures were severely affected, including a fastfood chain, the city hall, the terminal, and the port.
In Daanbantayan, the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima was totally damaged. In San Remigio, the town’s sports complex and the San Juan Nepomuceno Parish collapsed while the Capelinha de Fatima Replica was also damaged, and operations at Hagnaya Port were suspended.
The towns of Borbon, Asturias, Malabuyoc, Danao City, Liloan, and Medellin have also declared work suspensions in government offices as the CPDRRMO declared red alert status and mobilized all emergency responders and personnel as damage assessment and rescue operations continue.
The Department of Health said medical teams from Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center and Cebu South Medical Center have been deployed to affected areas, while its regional offices in Central and Eastern Visayas are coordinating with the OCD.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said its field office in Central Visayas has been working with local governments to assist displaced families. The DSWD has P379 million in standby funds and 2.4 million family food packs prepositioned nationwide.
Editor’s Note: Official death toll has been updated to reflect current data.
