Quake destroyed 80% of structures in nine Cotabato barangays —mayor

KIDAPAWAN CITY —Eighty percent of government structures in at least nine barangays of Tulunan, Cotabato have been severely damaged by the magnitude-6.3 quake that struck Mindanao last Wednesday night, followed by hundreds of aftershocks.

Tulunan mayor Reuel Limbongan said that damaged structures included barangay halls, health centers, and senior citizens’ hall.  

Thirty percent of structures in several barangays are slightly damaged, he said.

Barangays Bituan and Paraiso were among areas hardest hit by the temblor, he added.

Tulunan town, which was the epicenter of the strong quake, monitored at least 10 injured and of the number, six were hospitalized.

Limbongan said they have recorded the death at the District Hospital of a six-year old girl from Datu Paglas, Maguindanao.

He said the municipal council is eyeing to place the town under state of calamity,  but the local disaster management office has yet come up with a complete report of the quakes’ damage.

Meanwhile, the municipality of Makilala, which Phivolcs tagged as within the quake's epicenter, has recorded 25 residents injured during the quake, and over a hundred houses and structures badly damaged.

Of those injured, one was transferred to the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City after suffering complications as a result of the quake, according to M’lang acting administrator Shirley Orbita.

On the other hand, the Sangguniang Bayan of Makilala placed the town under a state of calamity.

Orbita said the legislative body deemed it timely to approve the release of the Quick Response Funds (QRF) or the disaster assistance fund to help hundreds of quake victims.

The Makilala LGU is set to release an initial P2.5 million from the QRF.

In M’lang, a certain Tony Pananggulong (in his late 50s), and a resident of Barangay Gaunan, died of stroke when the quake struck.

M’lang mayor Russel Abonado said 34 houses and structures in his town were badly damaged, including the second floor of the legislative building located near the town hall.

Abonado said he monitored four injured –three from Barangay Inac and the other one from Barangay Langkong. Both are being treated at a hospital in M'lang.

In Kidapawan City, more than a thousand people, mostly Manobos from Barangay Ilomavis, and at least 35 families from Sitio Lapan of Barangay Perez were forced to flee their homes on Wednesday night, after reports of the occurrences of rockfall and soil erosion in the area.

Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph Evangelista had ordered a forced evacuation operation, but lifted the order the following day. —LBG, GMA News