Local News: Bacolod City Sends Support to Guihulngan

Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia has committed to extend help to the earthquake victims in Negros Oriental. He sent yesterday a firetruck with ten personnel and relief goods to Mayor Ernesto Reyes of Guihulngan, Negros Oriental. The group was headed by Bacolod City Fire Marshal Chief Insp. Pamela Rojane Candido.

Leonardia also reactivated the Bacolod Cares Program of the Bacolod City Risk Reduction and Management Office that also sent donations to the victims of Typhoon Sendong in Cagayan, Iligan and Dumaguete Cities.

Leonardia yesterday said the city is accepting relief goods for the victims of the February 6 earthquake in Negros Oriental.

He said he will also recommend to the BCRRM Council the approval of financial assistance for the affected areas.

In his letter to Mayor Reyes, Leonardia said, “We hope this small contribution on our part will augment the assistance and support you are receiving for your people.”

While Candido said, DILG Secretary Jessie Robredo issued a memorandum advising Bacolod City to send a fire engine with crew to Guihulngan and conduct rescue services, water delivery and rehabilitation assistance to the affected residents of the earthquake in the area.

She said they still have eight serviceable firetrucks remaining in the city in case of fire incidents.

The mayor also said, Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA), after conducting an assessment, reported that the earthquake did not affect their facilities, while the Central Negros Electric Cooperative will be submitting an update to the city.

He further said Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) conducted ocular inspection of all bridges under their jurisdiction which they have found to be intact and safe.

Bacolod District Engineer Rey Venturina said they have also inspected seven school buildings and government offices and assured that these structures are safe since they have not been affected by the earthquake.

He has also directed the Office of the Building Official to inspect all structures frequented by the people like the malls, hotels, schools while they have asked the principals of the 38 schools in the city to submit their report on any possible damage caused by the earthquake.

City Engineer Belly Agui-llon said they have inspected the government center, which has been designed to withstand earthquakes, and also assured that the few hairline cracks found on it, as well as those in the City Hall and City Health Office will not affect the structural stability of the buildings.

She said Engineer Allan Agbones has been instructed to conduct maintenance repair on the buildings and in some schools, although some minor cracks found has existed already prior to the earthquake incident.
Agbones said they have inspected about 80 percent of the 38 schools in the city.

Engineer Eliseo Ybut said the West Negros University and the La Consolacion College buildings have no major cracks and their structures are intact. OBO head Ephraim Hechanova said the hairline cracks in Gaisano will not affect the structural stability of the building. They instructed Gaisano’s structural engineer to make the necessary repair, he said.

Hechanova said they also inspected the L’Fisher Hotel and found only temporary cracks that were not caused by the earthquake. He said the OBO will continue to conduct damage assessment and evaluation on all buildings including the San Sebastian Cathedral and will saturate the whole city.*