‘WE WILL HELP’: Iloilo plans aid after Davao ‘doublet earthquakes’

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Iloilo provincial government is set to extend aid to Davao Oriental following the magnitude 7.4 and 6.8 “doublet earthquakes” that struck the province on Oct. 10, with tremors also felt in parts of Iloilo.

Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said the provincial government is assessing its financial capacity before finalizing the form and amount of assistance to be extended.

“We are planning to give assistance to Davao, but we will know first what our capacity is at this point. Once we determine that, we will process it — we will help the province,” Defensor said in an interview on Sunday, Oct. 12.

He explained that the provincial government will still identify which part of the budget the assistance will come from, possibly through the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management funds.

He added that various processes must be considered in deciding the type and amount of assistance to be given.

The governor noted that a decision is expected by Monday, Oct. 13, so the necessary papers can be processed, similar to the assistance provided to Cebu.

Last week, the province allocated PHP 5,000,000 in financial aid to Cebu province following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Bogo City on Sept. 30.

Defensor said the assistance has been approved and will be released to Cebu on Oct. 15.

The Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology confirmed that the magnitude 7.4 earthquake recorded at 9:43 a.m. and the magnitude 6.8 tremor that struck Manay, Davao Oriental, at 7:12 p.m. on Friday are considered a “doublet earthquake.”

In a press briefing, PHIVOLCS Director Teresito Bacolcol said the two quakes were separate events that occurred in nearly the same location, noting that aftershocks are typically weaker by at least one magnitude.

Similar doublet events have been recorded in the country, including the 2023 Hinatuan earthquakes in Surigao del Sur (magnitude 7.4 on Dec. 2 and magnitude 6.8 on Dec. 4) and the 1992 Manay earthquakes (magnitude 7.1 and 7.5), both caused by movements along the Philippine Trench.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, as of its 6 a.m. report on Sunday, a total of 125,283 families or 491,258 individuals were affected in the Davao and Caraga Regions.

Of these, 1,939 families are staying in 14 evacuation centers, while others are receiving aid outside.

The report also recorded eight fatalities, 295 validated injuries, and 100 additional injuries pending validation, along with 2,155 damaged houses.

Damage to 273 infrastructure facilities was estimated at PHP 100,250,000, while approximately PHP 26,500,000 in assistance has already been distributed to more than 70,000 affected families.