Negros Oriental folk allowed to return to homes after quake

Residents of Negros Oriental province were allowed early Tuesday to return to their homes, a day after a devastating magnitude-6.9 quake jolted several areas in the province.

 

Governor Roel Degamo said he has also ordered the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to prepare relief items and assistance to the residents.

 

"Kalmado na ngayon. I instructed the LGUs na bumalik ang (residente) natin sa kanilang mga bahay. Na-lift na ang tsunami warning. Feel namin mas safe na ngayong araw," Degamo said in an interview on dwIZ radio.

 

The epicenter of Monday's devastating magnitude-6.9 quake was near Tayasan town in Negros Oriental.

 

Degamo said he expected residents in the province to respond better to disasters, saying they had learned many lessons from tropical storm "Sendong" (Washi) last year.

 

"Sendong" caused 1,268 deaths and more than P1.7 billion in damage to property last year. Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental was among the hardest hit areas.

 

Meanwhile, daily life started to return to normal in other areas in the Visayas Tuesday.

 

In Iloilo, radio dzBB's Iloilo affilate reported work in offices and classes in schools were to resume on Tuesday.

 

On the other hand, the Department of Public Works and Highways formed teams of engineers to inspect the infrastructure damaged by Monday's quake. –KG, GMA News