OCD updates Leyte quake deaths to 3
The death toll in the 6.5-magnitude earthquake that hit Eastern Visayas last July 6 has increased to three after an 88-year-old woman succumbed to head injuries while undergoing medical treatment.
Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, administrator of the Office of Civil
Defense (OCD) said Maria Bardiago of Carigara town, Leyte was rushed to the hospital due to head injuries when she lost her balance and fell when the quake struck at 4 p.m.
One of the fatalities was killed by concrete debris in Kananga town while another died in a landslide that buried their home in one of the far-flung barangays in Ormoc City.
At least 448 were reported injured by the quake. A total of 80 schools, six health facilities, 29 government facilities and two commercial buildings were damaged by the quake in the province of Leyte alone. The province is the hardest hit of the tremor. At least 948 aftershocks have been recorded since the quake.
The provinces of Leyte and Southern Leyte are still experiencing power outage, along with some areas in Eastern Samar, Northern Samar and Samar provinces.
Jalad said damage assessment is still ongoing but initially damage to property in eastern Visayas is estimated at 1177 million.
1184 M for repairs Meanwhile, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said the repair of schools damaged by the quake would cost the government about 1184 million.
Briones said that of the four schools divisions, “Ormoc City Division has the biggest damage amounting to 1104,220,000.” This is followed by Leyte Division with 176,514,000 worth of destruction; the Biliran Division with 12.7 million, and Tacloban City Division with 11.36 million.”
“Now, we also confirm, since we also did our assessment separately, the findings of DPWH [Department of Public Works and Highways] that among the school buildings which were damaged are those which were donated… the ones built publicly by the DPWH are still standing,” Briones stressed.
As a result, Briones said DepEd would recommend to initiate policy guidelines on school building donations. In consultation and agreement with Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, she said DepEd would issue policies on the upgraded design of school buildings that are earthquake-resistant and could withstand winds of at least 250 kph.
New guidelines
The new guidelines on school donation, Briones said, would help ensure that “all our new school buildings will have to follow that design and those who want to donate will also be encouraged to follow our design.”
Briones noted that Ormoc City – being the epicenter – has the biggest number in terms of schools affected at 28. About 67 classrooms also need replacement in the city while 17 personnel injured during the quake needs assistance.
To help the survivors of the recent quake, Briones stressed the significance of convergence and action.
In her report to the President, Briones noted that as a consequence of the aftershocks, “children still need psychosocial assistance.” However, the “challenge is, in some schools, children refuse to go inside the classroom.”
Briones was accompanied by DepEd Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del Pascua, DepEd Eastern Visayas OICregional director Ramir Uytico, Schools Division during the visit.