Until tremors stop, quake-hit Cebu areas contend with damaged infra, housing

CEBU, Philippines – As the northern parts of Cebu continue to recover from the impact of the September 30 earthquake, both residents and public officials struggle with unusable infrastructure and damaged houses.

Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Central Visayas Regional Director Joel Erestain said during a press conference on Thursday, October 16, that the transition to rehabilitation efforts from early recovery have already begun but awaits further recommendations from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

“Hindi nirerekomenda ng Phivolcs at saka MGB (Phivolcs and MGB haven’t recommended) to start rebuilding while there are still felt aftershocks,” Erestain said.

According to the regional director, the agencies can recommend reconstruction after a lead time of around one to two weeks of no recorded aftershocks.

Based on data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) as of 6 am on October 16, the estimated cost of damage to infrastructures in Central Visayas was more than P6.76 million, consisting of 959 damaged structures.

Citing data from 11 quake-hit local government units (LGUs), Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head Dennis Pastor said during the presser that there were more than 5,400 totally damaged houses and around 86,000 partially damaged houses in northern Cebu.

As for schools, Department of Education Central Visayas Director Salustiano Jimenez said during a press briefing on Tuesday, October 14, that initial assessments found 500 classrooms totally destroyed.

Rappler visited Bogo City and the towns of San Remigio and Daanbantayan on October 14 and noted that government employees operated in outdoor tents due to damage sustained by the LGUs’ city/municipal halls.

As of this writing, public officials continue to conduct damage assessments on residential homes, government structures, ports, bridges and roads.

“We are going to have a post-disaster assessment again with OCD because that’s the data we need for the recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction,” Pastor said.

One year recovery plan

The PDRRMO chief said the provincial government already has a recovery plan following the termination of rescue and retrieval operations on October 2.

“It’s a one-year plan to address certain issues like shelter, infrastructure, schools, and basic needs,” Pastor added.

In terms of shelter, displaced residents have been moved to tent cities that are being managed by the Philippine Red Cross and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

Some residents have opted to stay in makeshift tents outside of their residences.

As for education, San Remigio Mayor Mariano Martinez told Rappler on October 14 that they have initiated alternative learning modules to help pupils get back on their studies.

“The problem is that they’re not inside their homes so we’re leaving it to their teachers on how they will implement [alternative learning],” Martinez said.

Since October 8, the Cebu provincial government has released about P158 million for infrastructure recovery and rehabilitation.

Among the province’s top priorities now, the PDRRMO chief said, is ensuring that residents have access to potable water and that they can return to their livelihoods.

“You have to rebuild critical infrastructures, especially water [supply]. You have to ensure that the efforts of the LGUs are in line with the provincial government — this set-up is a stepping stone towards long-term development, rehabilitation, and recovery,” Pastor told Rappler. – Rappler.com