Sec. Taguiwalo arrives at Tingloy, Batangas with other DSWD officials and staff of the DSWD-Disaster Response Assistance and Management Bureau (DReAMB). Tingloy recorded the highest number of families affected by the earthquake numbering to 3,172 or 11,859 individuals. (Photo Credit: Voltaire Tupaz)
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo flew earlier today to Batangas to check on the situation of families who have been affected by the 6.0-magnitude earthquake that hit the province and other parts of CALABARZON on April 8.
Sec. Taguiwalo was joined by Assistant Secretary for Special Concerns, Anton Hernandez, who has been in the province since the aftermath of the earthquake; and officials and staff of the DSWD-Disaster Response Assistance and Management Bureau (DReAMB).
The welfare secretary conducted an aerial survey of the province and visited the island municipality of Tingloy, which recorded the highest number of affected families numbering to 3,172 or 11,859 individuals.
The DSWD has already extended a total of P1,598,296 worth of relief assistance to the affected families in the province in the form of tents, blankets, bottled water, and ready-to-eat food. It will continue to provide needed assistance, as instructed by Sec. Taguiwalo herself.
As of 10PM yesterday, the total number of affected families in the province has accelerated to 6,247 or 27,437 individuals based on the data validation conducted by the DReAMB and DSWD-Field Office CALABARZON, in coordination with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) IV-A, and the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) of Batangas.
Of this number, 6,122 families or 26,902 persons are taking shelter in 62 evacuation centers (ECs), while 123 families or 529 persons chose to stay with their families or friends. The ECs are closed during daytime and are occupied / operated during nighttime.
Some residents chose to stay in emergency tents within the premises of the identified ECs, as they are still afraid to stay and sleep indoors at night for fear that another earthquake might strike as they sleep.
The April 8 tremblor has also damaged a total of 2,614 houses in CALABARZON; of which, 506 were totally damaged, while 2,108 were partially damaged. The highest number of damaged houses was recorded in Tingloy with 1,407.
New earthquake in Lanao del Sur
In a related development, Sec. Taguiwalo has also instructed the DReAMB to monitor the situation of families affected by another 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Lanao del Sur at 5AM today.
According to Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the tremblor was felt at intensity IV in Davao City, Cagayan De Oro City, Cotabato City, Gingoog City, and Misamis Oriental.
DSWD-DReAMB is now coordinating with the Department’s Field Office in Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to get the latest updates on the tremor. ###
