President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday issued a statement to extend his condolences to everyone affected by the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that hit Cebu on Tuesday evening.
“My heartfelt condolences to the families who lost loved ones, and my prayers include the safety of the injured and all those affected by the earthquake,” Mr. Marcos posted in Filipino.
He said he had already tasked department secretaries to provide assistance and to assess the damage caused by the earthquake and its aftershocks.
“The DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) is ensuring the safety of roads and bridges, the DOE (Department of Energy) is working to restore power supply, the DOH (Department of Health) has sent additional personnel to hospitals, and the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) is delivering food and other relief,” Marcos said.
“The BFP (Bureau of Fire Protection) is assisting in search and rescue, while the PNP (Philippine National Police) is focused on maintaining order and helping in rescue operations. The OCD (Office of Civil Defense) and NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council) are coordinating with all agencies to ensure a swift and orderly response,” he added.
According to Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Dave Gomez, the President will visit Cebu on Thursday.
“The Cabinet secretaries went first to the ground zero (Cebu) since this morning, the President visited those hit by the storm in Masbate. But of course, definitely tomorrow, first thing tomorrow, our President will go to the ground zero,” Gomez said in a mix of English and Filipino.
