DND, military to play role in Itbayat rehab: Lorenzana

MANILA -- The defense and military sectors will be playing a major role in the ongoing relief and rehabilitation of quakebattered Itbayat, Batanes.

This was disclosed by Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana when asked what assistance the DND and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) can provide to the Batanes quake victims.

“For the Itbayat victims of the recent earthquake, the following will be provided by the DND and military: 1. Search and rescue of the victims. 2. Transport of the victims from Itbayat to the Hospital in Basco. 3. Transport of relief goods and other supplies from Manila and elsewhere to Basco and then to Itbayat,” he said in a message to the Philippine News Agency Monday.

Lorenzana added they will also be responsible for the transport of construction materials, intended for the repairs of damage government facilities and homes, from Manila and other places to Itbayat.

Aside from this, the DND and AFP will also participate along with other government agencies in the rehabilitation of the quake-battered community, he pointed out.

As this develops, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), in its 8 a.m. Monday update on the Batanes quakes, said government health facilities sustained some PHP47 million worth of damages.

This can be broken down into PHP40 million for the damages sustained by the Itbayat District Hospital and another PHP7 million for Itbayat Rural Health Unit.