Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary (DSWD) Rex Gatchalian on Monday (December) flew to Surigao del Sur to get a first-hand assessment of the damage caused by the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck parts of Mindanao last Saturday (Dec. 2).

The DSWD chief was specifically ordered by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to continue providing assistance to the families affected by the impact and aftermath of the magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Mindanao.

“In these challenging times, let us unite as a nation. Together, we will overcome the obstacles posed by this disaster and emerge stronger,” the President said in his social media post Sunday (Dec. 3) as he assured the public that the government is working to help victims of the quake that hit several areas in Mindanao Saturday evening.

President Marcos noted that the DSWD and the Department of the Interior and Local Government are collaborating with local government units (LGUs) “to provide essential aid to those in need.”

During the coordination meeting held at the Surigao del Sur provincial capitol in Tandag City, Secretary Gatchalian was given a damage assessment by Governor Alexander Pimentel.

“In line with the directive of President Marcos, we assure Governor Pimentel, all the LGUs of Surigao del Sur and all the families affected by the earthquake that you will receive all the necessary assistance from the DSWD,” Secretary Gatchalian said.

The situation briefing was also attended by the 17 municipal mayors and two city mayors of Surigao del Sur and by DSWD officials including Undersecretary for Disaster Response and Management Group (DRMG) Dianne Cajipe and Field Office Caraga Regional Director Mari Flor Dollaga.

Shortly after the magnitude 7.4 earthquake, the DSWD Field Office Caraga immediately activated its Quick Response Team (QRT) to render assistance to some 100 earthquake-affected families whose houses were damaged by the temblor.

The 100 families were given temporary shelter at the Bitoon Elementary School in Hinatuan town where they received family food packs (FFPs) on Sunday.

FO Caraga has been closely monitoring and conducting assessments in the earthquake-affected municipalities of Hinatuan, Bislig, Lingig, Barobo, Tagbina, and Tandag City.

FO Caraga Disaster Incident Report said around 170 houses were totally damaged while 1,530 partially damaged as of December 4, 9:00 am after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Surigao del Sur late Saturday and triggered tsunami warnings that were later lifted.

The FO also reported that 84,758 families representing 342,779 people were affected by the quake, with an epicenter near the town of Hinatuan in Surigao del Sur.

The powerful quake struck off the coast of Mindanao at a depth of 32 kilometres and was followed by four major aftershocks of magnitudes exceeding 6.0 over several hours into Sunday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).#