DAVAO CITY March 9 (PIA)- An official of the Office of Civil Defense XI and the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council XI called on everyone to follow the duck, cover and hold protocol during earthquakes.

Lennie Alegre, assistant regional director of the Office of Civil Defense XI said the duck, cover and hold principle remains the standard practice relative to the occurrence of earthquakes.

“Look for a place where you are protected from falling debris then you do the duck, cover and hold during the shaking.  Earthquakes don’t kill, it is the falling debris and buildings with poor structures that kill people,” she stressed.

Alegre said it is better to do the duck, cover, and hold protocol during the shaking since no person can withstand stronger earthquakes.

Meantime, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology clarified that the tremors in Davao Oro has nothing to do with any volcanic activity.

The Phivolcs issued an advisory and clarified that though 13 kilometers from the reported epicenter of the quakes is the Leonard Kniaseff Volcano, the series of earthquakes is tectonic in origin.

However, as part of the DOST-PHIVOLCS monitoring procedure, for moderate to large earthquakes occurring near active volcanoes, the institute will continue to watch over earthquake events in relation to any activity that may be associated with the Leonard Kniaseff Volcano. 

Earlier, two provincial governments in Davao Region have suspended work and classes pending the results of the assessments made by local government units on the structural integrity of their buildings following the tremors that rocked Davao de Oro and nearby areas at 2:02 pm, 4:46 pm and at dawn on Wednesday, March 8.

Josie Jean Rabanos, provincial administrator of Davao del Norte activated the Provincial Rapid Damage Assessment Team to conduct safety inspections  of all schools and office buildings both public and private as part of the precautionary measures and standard safety protocols in determining the structural integrity of the said facilities.

An emergency meeting was held at 8:00 am at the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

In a separate memorandum, Governor Edwin Jubahib declared that all work and classes will be suspended up to today, March 8, 2023, to give way to local government units to conduct an intensive structural integrity inspection of all public infrastructure, buildings, school and facilities in their respective areas of jurisdiction to ensure the safety of the public.

“Extension of the work and classes’ suspension shall be the discretion of the respective local chief executive depending on the extent of the inspection and other immediate public concerns in their areas of jurisdiction,” he said.

Tagum City Mayor Rey T. Uy issued Executive Order No. 028 declaring suspension of work and classes in the city of Tagum from March 07 to March 08, 2023.

The EO was also based on the directive of Davao del Norte Provincial Governor Edwin I. Jubahib.

Davao de Oro Governor Dorothy Montejo-Gonzaga declared a suspension of work and classes in the whole province of Davao de Oro starting yesterday and today, after the magnitude 5.9 earthquake that happened at 2:02 pm yesterday.

She and Representative Ruwel Peter Gonzaga visited earlier, the Davao de Oro Provincial Hospital in Montevista to ensure that the patients received proper medical attention despite being displaced outside the hospital building due to the series of strong tremors in the province. 

Last February 1, some of the structures in the hospital were damaged by the 6.01 earthquake.

They also visited the municipality of New Bataan to check the situation in the town as it was the epicenter of the two strong tremors yesterday.

Meantime, all remaining events of the Bulawan Festival 2023 for March 7-8, 2023, except for the Mass and Foundation Day Program are cancelled due to the series of earthquakes which has an epicenter in New Bataan, Davao de Oro.  The Food Park remained open as of March 7, 2023 last night.

Cracks and damages were seen in the Municipal Hall of New Bataan after the series of earthquakes yesterday March 7, 2023.

Two of the tremors that have magnitude of more than 5 were recorded to have its epicenter in the town.

According to MDRRMO New Bataan, the Municipal Hall is close until further assessment.

Meanwhile, some residents in Nabunturan chose to sleep outside of their houses last night, March 7, 2023, to ensure their safety as aftershocks of the recent earthquakes were still being felt.  (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)