LEYTE, Philippines — The local government of Ormoc City may now use its emergency fund for its earthquake-affected residents following the declaration of a state of calamity in the area on Tuesday.
Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez said 20 percent of the city’s calamity fund will be used for the purchase of food, water and materials for the construction of shelters of residents whose houses have been badly damaged by the earthquake.
The declaration of a state of calamity will also allow the imposition of price freeze to prevent businessmen from raising the prices of their basic commodities.
Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) is in need of 70 million pesos for the rehabilitation of damaged classrooms in Ormoc City.
DepEd says there are 14 totally damaged classrooms, 59 with major damages, while 47 others with minor damages.
Public school teachers are now holding office outside of campus buildings as these already have cracks, and also due to aftershocks.
The Dolores National High School sustained the most damage as ten of its classrooms are totally damaged. It is currently cordoned off.
Teachers of Bagong Elementary School have no idea yet when to resume classes as six of its classrooms can no longer be used, while others have big cracks.
“President Duterte, if this news reaches you, I hope you could give us temporary solution to this problem. I hope you could help us hold makeshift classes so that students won’t be left behind in the lectures,” Bagong Elementary School teacher Lilibeth G. Codong said.
DepEd will set temporary learning spaces especially in schools with totally damaged classrooms so that classes will continue.
Meanwhile, DepEd vowed to immediately conduct stress debriefing to the students who panicked and are traumatized by the strong 5.4 in magnitude aftershock.
“Actually, our nurses together with the NGO’s non-government organization particularly save the children we have the SRA-E we have the LGU also and of course DOH and the DepEd nurses we already instructed them to conduct the stress de briefing particularly in the most affected areas in district 4,” education program specialist Dr. Elvin H. Wenceslao Sr. said. — Aiko Miguel | UNTV News & Rescue
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