Davao City continues aiding distress quake survivors

By MASIDING NOOR YAHYA

November 8, 2019

Davao City relief team delivers relief goods to quake-affected families in Davao del Sur. (Davao-CIO)  

DAVAO CITY: The city government of Davao is continually reaching out to quake-hit areas by delivering relief goods to families affected by the recent earthquake in Davao del Sur.

The City relief team has reached out to distress families in seven villages of Magsaysay municipality in Davao del Sur on Wednesday.

Around 2,755 families including members of the indigenous people who are crammed in tents in the villages Kasuya, Bulucan, Balawinon, Bacungan, San Isidro, Lower Bala, and Upper Bala received relief packs pooled by the city government, private company partners, Robinson’s Supermarket and Minute Burger.

Magsaysay suffered heavy damages including the municipal hall and 7,400 homes. A total of 1,333 families are currently settled in the evacuation centers and tents near their homes. Classes have been suspended pending declaration that school buildings are safe for use.

Magsaysay Mayor Arthur Davin said many of his people are still trying to recover from the traumatic experience. Families have been traumatized by the strong earthquakes and aftershocks which caused landslides and damages in lands, establishments, and several homes in the town.

He said he and his people drew strength from other people who did not hesitate to help them.

“Ang nakahatag lang namo’g kusog, kanang mga tao nga nitabang namo. Kanang naa’y mutabang namo in terms of goods, in terms of cash assitance. Murag ba’g, mao ra to’y [kung asa] maka-draw mi’g strength nga wa’ diay mi nag-inusara (We draw strength from the people who have helped us because we feel we are not alone in this difficult time),” he said.

Relina Daya Limaa, a resident of Barangay Bacungan, Magsaysay, who also happened to be a B’laan native, expressed how hard they are trying to cope with the unfortunate event.

“Lisod kaayo, Ma’am, kay naay linog. Unya dili nami kauli sa among balay. Nahugno tanang simento, Ma’am. Adtong [October] 16 pa, nibalhin nami diha sa evacuation center sa eskwelahan kay di’ naman mi makatulog sa among balay kay naguba man (Our situation here is very difficult. We can no longer stay in our homes because these damaged. Since October 16, we have evacuated to the school because our house was destroyed),” she said.

Limaa added the family also needed cash to buy their other needs such as mats, mosquito nets, rice, and water containers.

Lucia Paran from Barangay Upper Bala, was emotional after sharing how she lost her home.

“Sa tinuod lang wala gyud ko ganahi aning maglain-lain ug puyo ba. Gusto nako sa among balay, unya kay akong balay kay naguba man. Dili naman gud pwede puy-an (To be honest, I am not comfortable evacuating from place to place. I just wanted to stay at home, however, our house was damaged and cannot be inhabited),” she said.

Mercy Macanip also from Upper Bala said she is worried about where to get a source of income because the farm where she and her husband worked was also damaged by a landslide.

“Naguol nako sa akong bana kay di’ naman mi kakita’g kwarta. Ang among paningkamot para mabuhi, asa naman padulong mi? (I am worried where we can find a source of income. We didn’t know where to go),” she lamented.

This week, the Davao City government continues to deliver aid as more quake-displaced families in Davao del Sur and North Cotabato need more aid.

On Thursday, affected families in Bansalan town will get their share of the relief items.

Last Sunday, food packs were given to the affected families in Makilala.

As of Tuesday, the volume of relief packs already reached 10, 780 containing two kilograms of rice, three canned goods, three noodles, water, and coffee.

Of the total number of relief packs, 4,000 will be given to Magsaysay.

More aid to quake victims

Meanwhile, Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte approved the release of some P4.2 million from the city’s Quick Response Fund (QRF) as additional cash assistance to quake-hit areas in Davao del Sur and North Cotabato.

City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRMMO) head Alfredo Baloran said the additional cash aid will help the local government units address the needs of the affected families.

The said amount will be given to the towns affected by the October 31 earthquake.

Davao City earlier gave P1.5 M to 5 towns affected by the October 16 earthquake — Bansalan, Magsaysay and Matanao in Davao del Sur and Tulunan and Makilala in North Cotabato.

Baloran said that of the additional P4.2 million, some P1 million is allocated each for the provinces of Davao del Sur and Cotabato; P500,000 each for Kidapawan in North Cotabato and Digos in Davao del Sur; and P300,000 each for the towns of Mlang, Magpet, Matalam in North Cotabato; and, Hagonoy in Davao del Sur.

“As soon as we can get the check, I will personally deliver it immediately,” Baloran said.

Aside from the cash assistance, the city also extended relief goods to the affected areas as well as personnel augmentation and equipment during the search and rescue operation of the Office of the Civil Defense in North Cotabato. (###)

Photo caption: Davao City relief team delivers relief goods to quake-affected families in Davao del Sur. (Davao-CIO)