Several barangays in Makilala town declared no-build zones following Cotabato quake

Four barangays in Makilala, Cotabato have been declared no-build zones after heavy damages from the magnitude-6.5 earthquake that struck different parts of southern Philippines.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said it is no longer safe to build structures in the four barangays and ordered evacuation of residents, according to a Balitanghali report by Ivan Mayrina on Friday.

In the upland Barangay Buhay, all structures sustained damages following the tremor,  the report said.

Houses, basketball courts, health center,  school and the barangay hall collapsed.

Barangay Buhay appeared like a ghost town after the quake, but some men returned during the day to gather their crops and check their pets. They also retrieved properties that could be of use.

Some residents of Barangay Buhay had spent the night in the nearby Barangay Poblacion, while others continued to evacuate on Friday to seek shelter elsewhere.

Children rode trucks provided by the municipality of Makilala for them to be brought to different schools serving as evacuation centers.

Acting Governor Lala Taliño-Mendoza said the town of Tulunan, being the epicenter of the quake, was critically damaged, but the town of Makilala was the worst hit of all the towns in the province.

Apart from water and food, residents are in need of tents after many lost their homes.

Assessment of damaged roads and infrastructures is continuing.

Owwners of homes that were completely destroyed will be provided P30,000 assistance by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and National Housing Authority (NHA), while those with partially-damaged houses will get P15,000.—Jamil Santos/LDF, GMA News