The House of Representatives is coordinating with local government units and authorities from areas affected by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Cebu, Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III said on Wednesday.
Dy, in a statement, said the House leadership is also asking district representatives about how best to assist residents in quake-stricken areas.
‘We are currently conducting coordination talks with agencies and local government units to ensure that the assistance needed would be immediately provided, particularly quick medical service and basic needs for areas hard hit by the earthquake,’ Dy said in Filipino.
‘We are currently coordinating with the representatives of affected districts to support their goal of bringing help to their constituent[s],’ he added.
Dy said the House extends its sympathies to the families of those who died.
As of posting time, the Office of Civil Defense said the death toll could reach at least 60, while the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said that the death toll has risen to 61.
‘Congress sends its heartfelt sympathies to the families who lost their loved ones and to all those affected by the earthquake in Cebu and nearby provinces,’ Dy said, speaking in Filipino.
‘Your Congress is ready to be a partner in crafting the needed programs to respond to those affected by this calamity, and to ensure that the country is ready for similar incidents in the future,’ he added.
Late Tuesday night, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the waters northeast of Bogo, Cebu, damaging heritage churches and other structures and knocking out power in parts of the central Philippines.
In Bogo alone, at least 27 people were confirmed dead, according to the PDRRMO.
Initially, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) measured the quake at magnitude 6.7 before upgrading it to 6.9. The tectonic tremor was recorded at a shallow depth of five kilometers.
Phivolcs warned of a possible ‘minor sea-level disturbance’ and urged residents of Leyte, Cebu, and Biliran to avoid coastal areas. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no tsunami threat.
‘Our people are not alone in this tragedy. The people and the entire House of Representatives are with you in helping you recover,’ Dy noted.