President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered all concerned government agencies to provide 24/7 assistance to earthquake victims in Davao Oriental and nearby provinces.
Marcos wants to ensure all displaced individuals are safe after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Davao Oriental on Friday, Presidential Communications Office Acting Secretary Dave Gomez said Saturday.
“The President’s paramount concern is the safety and well-being of our people in the earthquake struck areas,” Gomez said in a statement.
“On the instructions of the President, all concerned frontline agencies were tasked to work round the clock to provide rescue and relief operations,” he added.
The magnitude 7.4 offshore earthquake struck Manay, Davao Oriental at 9:43 a.m. Friday, followed by a magnitude 6.8 at 7:12 p.m.
Seven people were killed and 11 others were injured, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Saturday.
Marcos also instructed the NDRRMC, Office of Civil Defense, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, and all concerned agencies to carry out evacuations in coastal areas, activate emergency communication lines, and ensure close coordination with local governments.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development has already dispatched family food packs and other essential supplies for the affected individuals.
Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways is conducting assessments of roads, bridges, and other infrastructure to ensure the safety of residents and facilitate access to remote areas.
