Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib appealed for aid from the national government to help his province repair classrooms and other school facilities, which incurred structural damages following the October 10 magnitude-7.4 earthquake in the Davao Region.
On Saturday, October 11, Jubahib met with visiting Cabinet secretaries Vince Dizon (Department of Public Works and Highways), Rex Gatchalian (Department of Social Welfare and Development), and Sonny Angara (Department of Education) to discuss the effects of the seismic event on his province.
Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chairperson Leo Tereso Magno was also present during the meeting, which took place after the concerned local and national government officials inspected the damaged structures across the province.
According to both Dizon and Angara, there are available disaster response funds that the national government can tap to assist the Davao del Norte in its post-disaster activities. Jubahib was instructed to prepare a certified list of items they need to repair damaged homes and other infrastructures.
The governor noted that parents have raised concerns over the safety of public school buildings in the province as cracks appeared inside the classrooms following the massive quake. Angara said classes would remain suspended in the affected schools until repairs are done and completed.
According to Angara, initial estimates of all damages to public school buildings and facilities across the Davao Region reached P31-million. He noted, however, that Davao del Norte was the least among the heavily affected provinces compared to Davao City and Davao Oriental.
“The (structural) damages here (in Davao del Norte) are minor compared to Davao City and Davao Oriental,” Angara told the Manila Standard.
Dizon said they will make a survey on all roads that were damaged particularly in Santo Tomas, Davao Del Norte, where some roads have been rendered impassable. Once the survey is done and assessment is completed, the DPWH will start the repair of the roads.
Gatchalian advised provincial governors to submit their list of requests from the national government, so it can release the necessary funds intended for post-disaster response measures in their respective communities.
“We are thankful to our Secretaries who visited to check on the condition of our province and our residents after the earthquake,” Jubahib said.
