President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday personally visited victims of the devastating 6.9-magnitude earthquake in Cebu province to oversee relief efforts and extend immediate assistance to affected residents.
President Marcos arrived in Bogo City, the epicenter of the Sept. 30 powerful earthquake, where he inspected some of the badly damaged structures and interacted with victims.
The President, along with local officials of Cebu province led by Governor Pamela Baricuatro, inspected the collapsed housing units at SM Cares Village in Barangay Polambato, which was established by SM Supermalls in November 2014 as a relocation site for survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda.
Reports indicate that eight bodies have been recovered from collapsed houses in the area.
Marcos afterwards visited the Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish Church of St. Vicente Ferrer in Barangay Bungtod, as the church sustained heavy damage during the earthquake.
The President then went to the City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy in Barangay Cogon, a public school heavily damaged during the earthquake.
He also inspected the Cebu Provincial Hospital in Barangay Taytayan, where he assured patients of immediate relief assistance. The hospital staff have put up makeshift wards at the parking lot to attend to the influx of patients.
The President gave instructions on relief operations to the Cabinet officials who accompanied him, including Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Cristina Frasco, and Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa.
According to the latest report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the death toll of the earthquake has climbed to 72, of which 30 were from Bogo.
At least 294 are reported injured, all in the Central Visayas region.
The NDRRMC has yet to determine damage to infrastructure and agriculture as of this posting.