The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Central Visayas re-activated its 24/7 Emergency Hotline (032) 232-9507 for public inquiries and updates after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake shook several towns and cities in Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor this morning.

The DSWD’s Quick Response Team (QRT) is now on 24-hour operation to monitor and assess the extent of damages as well as to provide updates on the response efforts of the Department in the four affected provinces.

The public can also visit and know the latest updates through the DSWD main website old.dswd.gov.ph or www.fo7.dswd.gov.ph.

Meanwhile, as of 6pm today, October 15, thirteen evacuation centers have been initially opened temporarily housing 1,800 families with 9,000 persons in Bohol province. The evacuation centers are: one in Tagbilaran City serving 50 families; two in Alicia, Bohol providing temporary shelter to 150 families; six in Calape, Bohol with 1,000 families; and four in Tubigon with 600 families.

Some of the displaced families are staying in open spaces rather than in community facilities for fear of further damage with continuing occurrence of aftershocks.

DSWD and local government social workers are still validating the number of damaged houses.

DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said that some P10 million was released today to DSWD-FO VII for purchase of relief goods for the affected population, as well as for the operational expenses in the disaster operations. ###