President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday expressed his sympathy for the families of those who died in the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu.
He also said that government agencies are on the ground giving aid to those in need.
In a statement, Marcos said: ‘I wholeheartedly extend my condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones, and I include in my prayers the safety of the injured and all those affected by the earthquake.’
‘Our cabinet secretaries are already in the affected areas to provide assistance and assess the damage caused by the earthquake and its aftershocks,’ the president also said.
According to Marcos, the Department of Public Works and Highways is making sure that the roads in the province are safe for travel, while the Department of Energy is working to restore power supply in affected communities.
The Department of Health, meanwhile, is deploying additional personnel to provide medical assistance, he said.
Moreover, the Department of Social Welfare and Development is distributing relief goods and other essentials to the victims, he added.
‘The BFP (Bureau of Fire Protection) is assisting in search and rescue operations, while the PNP (Philippine National Police) is focused on maintaining order and supporting rescue efforts,’ Marcos said.
‘The OCD (Office of Civil Defense) and the NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council) are leading the coordination of all agencies to ensure a swift and orderly response,’ he noted.
‘I urge everyone to remain vigilant and heed the advisories of your local government. Together, we will help our fellow citizens overcome this challenge and rebuild the affected communities,’ he further added.
Still assessing the damage
Meanwhile, in a chance interview in Masbate City, Marcos said the government is still assessing the damage caused by the quake.
‘We’re still assessing the damage there. The earthquake was very strong,’ he said.
‘So we’re assessing the damage, we’re assessing the needs,’ Marcos added.
The entire province of Cebu has been placed under a state of calamity following the earthquake, which caused widespread destruction and left 36 people confirmed dead.
From this, 27 deaths were reported in Bogo City, the epicenter of the 6.9-magnitude temblor that struck at 10 p.m. on Tuesday.