Former Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate has called on the Marcos administration to expedite relief operations and structural inspections following a magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck parts of Southern Mindanao.
Zarate, who was in the region when the tremor occurred, described the quake as one of the strongest in recent memory, leaving reports of damage and panic among residents in General Santos City, Davao City, and nearby areas.
‘The priority must be the rapid delivery of aid to affected residents. We cannot afford the usual slow bureaucracy while people are still in shock and living in fear of aftershocks or a possible tsunami threat,’ Zarate said in an emailed statement on Monday.
Expressing concern over reports of collapsed structures, cracked roads, and damaged facades, the former lawmaker urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), local government units, and building officials to conduct thorough inspections of public and private infrastructure.
He stressed the urgency of assessing schools, hospitals, high-rise buildings, and bridges to determine which facilities remain safe for occupancy and which should be evacuated to prevent further casualties during possible aftershocks.
‘We have already seen reports of buildings collapsing or sustaining major damage. We must determine which are still safe and which need to be evacuated or demolished,’ Zarate said, noting that many residents remained hesitant to return to their homes hours after the main tremor.
Zarate also called on the national government to immediately release calamity funds and suspend fees related to damage assessments and repairs, including building permit reissuances and inspection charges.
‘The Marcos administration must show urgency. Every day of delay in aid and inspections puts more lives and livelihoods at risk,’ he said, adding that residents in General Santos, Davao City, and nearby provinces need immediate action.