Supermarket destroyed by Mindanao earthquake gives away goods to GenSan residents

The management of a collapsed supermarket in Barangay Calumpang, General Santos City gave away its goods to residents before the site undergoes a clearing operation.

In a “24 Oras” report by GMA Regional TV’s Jandi Esteban, a fence was erected around the supermarket after it collapsed during the magnitude 7.8 Mindanao earthquake on June 8.

It was the supermarket’s operations officer who permitted residents to scour the property for salvageable commodities from the establishment.

“Ang store operations officer, iyong mga stock na natira, ay pinayagan nilang ibigay dahil dadalhin lang din naman daw sa landfill,” General Santos City Police Acting Director P/Col. Eric De Venancio said.

(The store operations officer allowed the remaining stocks to be given away because they said those items would only end up being taken to a landfill anyway.)

Many residents flocked to the area with bags and were able to collect various goods, such as soap, diapers, sanitary napkins, and other grocery items. A child was also reported to have collected coins amounting to P500 which she placed in her piggy bank.

Due to safety concerns, the police recommended a halt to the unsupervised collection of goods.

“Mayroon kaming police doon. Baka papasukin nila iyong restricted area,” De Venancio said.

“Tinawagan ko ang Station Commander na kausapin iyong Operations Officer na baka may masaktan pa, ipahinto na lang siguro or i-organize nang maayos,” he added.

(“We have police officers deployed there. They might enter the restricted area. I called the Station Commander to speak with the Operations Officer, warning that someone might get hurt, so it’s probably best to halt it or organize it properly.)

The magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit offshore Maasim, Sarangani and resulted in 81 fatalities, while 31 are still missing. —Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/RF, GMA News