Quake-hit town in Masbate ran out of funds to aid victims —mayor

Masbate's Cataingan town has no funds to aid the victims of Tuesday's magnitude-6.6 earthquake because most of the budget was allocated to COVID-19 response, its mayor said on Wednesday.

Interviewed on GMA News’ Unang Balita, Cataingan Mayor Felipe Cabataña appealed to the national government for funds to help the affected residents.

“Kung maaari sana 'yung pananawagan ko sa national government na sana tulungan kami kasi ang pondo namin sa calamity halos naubos na sa COVID,” Cabataña said.

“Hindi naman kami mag-aasa na may lindol na darating kaya hindi namin nalagyan ng allocation 'yung ganitong klaseng kalamidad kaya medyo nahihirapan ang tao,” he added.

On Tuesday, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake hit Cataingan, Masbate at 8:03 a.m. causing some to structures to collapse and sustain damage.

Retired policeman Gilbert Sauro, a resident  of Barangay Concepcion, died after the earthquake.

More than 20, meanwhile, were injured, according to the Office of Civil Defense.

Cabataña said that several residents have been staying outside of their homes as aftershocks are being experienced in their area every two to three hours.

“‘Yung mga tao ayaw nang pumasok sa mga bahay nila. Takot na takot na talaga sa lindol kasi 'yung lindol ang pinakamalakas na lindol na nangyari dito sa amin,” he said.

A magnitude 5.1 aftershock meanwhile occurred on Wednesday morning. 

The mayor called for donations of tents  to provide temporary shelter for residents.

However, Cabataña expressed concern that the evacuees might ignore social distancing in evacuation centers, which only have limited space. In each barangay, 10 to 20 families have evacuated, he noted.

“'Yun na nga yung problema. Sa evacuation center, hindi na masyadong ma-observe 'yung social distancing kasi maliit 'yung lugar. Ang evacuation center maraming tao,” he said.

Also, the quake caused damage to ports in Cataingan.

Cabataña said some personnel from Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) ordered the suspension of their operations.

According to him, the suspension will affect Cataingan as 90% of its economy is coming from the trade with Cebu City through these ports. —Joviland Rita/LBG/KG, GMA News