Philippines: Tulunan: Preparedness in the epicenter of the earthquake
By Jules L. Benitez
Thirty minutes after the 6.6 magnitude earthquake rocked this rural town, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Center (MDRRMC) immediately established an incident command post in the municipal grounds even when the dust from the debris of nearby old municipal building barely settled. When the strong aftershock hit, the responders were unmindful and kept raising the makeshift tents.
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“Somehow, the earlier quake of October 16 drilled us on what we should be doing in case of a disaster,” Maureene Villamor, Vice Mayor of Tulunan, said. “Our team is ready to respond now,” said the Vice Mayor who was at the incident command post.
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Villamor said the municipality needs additional materials for temporary shelters and food packs. She estimated the number of severely affected to reach around 8,000 individuals in the entire municipality which has been identified as the epicenter of the earthquake.
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The MDRRMC listed the barangays of Daig, Bacong and Magbok as the hardest hit as they were nearer the epicenter. As of two in the afternoon, 12 individuals from these barangays were reportedly injured, mostly children. The Day Care Center, Barangay Hall, and elementary school, all in barangay Daig were reportedly totally destroyed. The barangay is about 50 kilometers from the town center. In addition, the road leading to barangays Bacong and Bituan, and in Sitio Sambulawan were reportedly unpassable due to a landslide.
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