PBBM tells gov’t agencies to help Filipinos affected by earthquake

HONOLULU, Hawaii – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday (US Time) told the concerned government agencies to conduct continuous relief operations in the areas affected by the earthquake in Mindanao.

Marcos made the marching order here in Hawaii as he virtually met with the government officials in the Philippines while he was currently in Hawaii for a working visit.

He conducted a Zoom meeting and asked Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro; Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa; Social Welfare Undersecretary Edu Punay; Office of Civil Defense Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno and other government officials for updates on the relief operations in Mindanao.

"You seem to have—be well in hand. Let's just be vigilant. Let's keep watching. We must pay attention to aftershocks because sometimes there are many casualties in aftershocks," Marcos said.

He acknowledged the earthquake-related concerns, saying, "If there were going to be any movements from the sea, it would have happened already because the epicenter is not far."

"Anyway, regarding aftershocks, let's just keep watching. Let's keep waiting. Let's not pull our people just yet until those subside, to ensure that nobody gets injured or dies," Marcos said.

President Marcos expressed his intent to stay updated on the situation in areas affected by the earthquake by scheduling regular meetings with government officials.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council stated on Sunday afternoon that there was a concern of 8 fatalities and 23 injuries resulting from the significant earthquake on Friday.

They also highlighted that the quake caused extensive damage to more than a hundred structures, such as homes, in Sarangani and nearby areas, impacting 180 families or 1,509 individuals.

Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte, acting as the government's caretaker while Marcos is still in Hawaii, traveled to Sarangani on Sunday to assess the situation of the affected families.

She made a stop at the Ladera Funeral Homes in Glan, where the bodies of a mother and her child, who tragically lost their lives in a landslide, were taken. Additionally, she paid a visit to the injured individuals who are currently recovering at the Sarangani Provincial Hospital-Glan.