PNoy inspects quake-hit Visayas provinces as death toll climbs to 144

(Updated 8:41 p.m.) President Benigno Aquino III pledged government assistance for the quake-hit provinces of Bohol and Cebu, which suffered the most damage and casualties from the magnitude 7.2 earthquake on Tuesday morning, during a visit to the two sites Wednesday.

The death toll from the powerful quake that hit Central Visayas had risen to 144 as of 5 p.m. Wednesday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.

Bohol recorded the highest number of fatalities with 134 victims, followed by Cebu with nine and Siquijor with one, NDRRMC spokesperson Major Rey Balido said.

In the town of Carmen, the epicenter of the earthquake in Bohol province, the popular Chocolate Hills tourism complex sustained significant damage, municipal administrator Eleazar Cagol said.

“Yung complex mismo na view deck, it's not open for business operations. May mga hills na kasama dun sa mavu-view natin na nag-landslide,” he said in a report on GMA News TV's “News To Go” on Wednesday.

President Aquino assured provincial officials that the national government would help restore the centuries-old churches in Bohol, some of which have been declared as national historical landmarks and cultural treasures, that were damaged during the quake.

According to Section 7 of RA 10066, all properties declared as national monuments are entitled to receive priority government funding for conservation and restoration.

After inspecting several damaged sites in nearby Cebu island, Aquino observed that there were "questions in the quality of the workmanship" in some places.

"There has [to] be a review of the systems in place and dealing and coordinating with the local government units, to not just look at the obvious areas na may damage but also when the plans come in, on how to either replace [them] or...retrofit," he said during a briefing with Cebu officials.

3 million people affected

More than three million people in the central Visayas region were affected by the strong quake, Balido said.

A total of 291 people were injured, he added, while 23 people were reported missing in Bohol.