Masbate quake damages P309M in infrastructure projects

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Bicol has reported some P309 million damages in infrastructures caused by the 6.6. magnitude earthquake that struck the island province of Masbate on Aug. 18, most of which were school buildings and facilities of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Claudio Yucot, OCD Bicol regional director and chairperson of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC), said in its latest report that DepEd’s school classrooms,equipment and learning materials suffered damages worth over P279 million out of the total of P309 million damages on infrastructures in Masbate.

At least 75 schools have reported damages, 98 classrooms were totally damaged and need to be replaced. and 171 classrooms need major repairs.

Some 19 schools from the towns of Batuan, Cataingan, Dimasalang, Palanas, Pio V. Corpus, and Placer were also damaged.

The OCD also reported P29.4 million in damages on roads, bridges and government infrastructures. A barangay health station in Cataingan town also suffered P55,000 worth of damage.

Latest report from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bicol regional office, said the total estimated cost of damage to roads and government public buildings in Masbate is P29.4 million and P500,000 in Camarines Sur.

As to damages on houses, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Bicol reported 959 houses damaged. Of these numbers, 82 were totally damaged and 877 partially damaged. The Masbate quake claimed he life of a retired police officer and injured some 50 persons.

The quake also caused a sea sinkhole, liquefaction, sea intrusion caused by subsidence and fault movement.

The Aug. 18 earthquake coincided with the 8th death anniversary of Interior and Local Government Sec. Jessie Robredo, who perished in a plane crash in Masbate, some 25 kilometers away from Cataingan town, the epicenter of the tremor.