TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Oct. 17 (PIA) — Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III led the distribution of relief goods here Wednesday for earthquake victims who have sought shelter at Tagbilaran Sports Complex following the deadly earthquake that rocked Bohol on Oct. 15.
The sports complex was packed with around 500 families as Pres. Aquino personally handed over relief packs to the evacuees.
The families fled their homes after a destructive 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Bohol on Tuesday.
According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), more than 5,000 families were affected by the deadly quake, which left more than 100 dead in Bohol.
Bohol island was the hardest hit in central Philippines as the quake’s epicenter was located 2 kilometers southeast of Carmen town here.
Prior to visiting the evacuees, Pres. Aquino made an aerial tour of the quake-hit areas in the province.
DSWD Sec. Dinky Soliman assured that the social welfare department has already dispatched food and tents for the displaced families, adding that they will also bring in the unused tents that were brought to Zamboanga.
A C-130 cargo plane of the Philippine Air Force flew in a total of 2,000 food packs from DSWD in coordination with the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in Bohol.
Aside from the food packs, 38 tents were likewise brought in for the quake-hit families.
Sec. Soliman added that the Department of Health will also send not only medicines but also medical tools needed to treat the injured victims who are admitted in hospitals in the province.
Pres. Aquino assured that his administration is ready to assist and respond to the needs of calamity-hit local government units.
From the sports complex, the President also checked on the damage caused by the earthquake on Tagbilaran Port.
Port officials estimate that around P500 million is needed to fund the repairs on the damaged port.
The port have resumed operations but big cargo ships are not yet allowed to use the port as of this writing. (PIA-7/Bohol/ECBongosia)
