(Eagle News)–The Palace on Monday, Dec. 16, said the national government was “definitely” on top of the situation following a 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Davao del Sur.
According to Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, the ” national government has already mobilized all frontline disaster response and humanitarian assistance units to make sure that we can immediately provide help for all of the victims.”
“President (Rodrigo) Duterte is closely monitoring the progress of ongoing operations to thoroughly evaluate the damage of the quake and all ground units are ordered to work round-the-clock to make sure that everyone is safe and are ready for possible aftershocks,” Nograles said, he gave the assurance the government would “definitely provide all the assistance needed for the family of the lone fatality.”
He said medical assistance “is also being provided for the 37 people who are initially listed as injured as a result of the powerful quake,” while “security forces have been deployed to ensure that all those who are in evacuation centers are safe and the properties that they have left behind are adequately protected.”
“(This) pattern of unfortunate events have prompted our local disaster reduction and response units to create community-based frontline emergency responders,” Nograles said, noting that each sitio, or each barangay nationwide, should have “well-trained emergency responders and all communities should be taught on how to properly respond during