Local chief executives in Caraga exercise caution, discretion amid several earthquakes
By NiΓ±a Jonalyn Gambe-Diamante
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — “Our local leaders have the autonomy to order for a localized suspension of classes and work if, based on their assessment, there is really a need to [temporarily] halt these operations to ensure everyone’s safety—which must always come first,” said Governor Robert Lyndon Barbers of Surigao del Norte in Caraga amid the earthquake in the area on October 17.
He encouraged local chief executives (LCEs) to exercise discretion especially in urgent situations affecting the safety of students and workers, following a series of recent earthquakes.
Unlike other natural occurrences such as rainfall, typhoons, and flooding, wherein weather forecasts and advisories are released beforehand by warning agencies such as the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA), earthquakes come like a thief in the night—unexpected and unannounced. As such, people are left with little to no time to prepare or avoid the hazards of such incidents.
With this reality, local chief executives (LCEs) must act with urgency to ensure the safety of their constituents—especially, the vulnerable sectors of the society such as the children, particularly the students whose safety may be jeopardized as they may be confined in their classrooms when an earthquake strikes, he said.
Caraga is among the regions significantly affected by the recent earthquakes starting with the magnitude 7.4 earthquake on Oct. 10, the epicenter of which was traced to neighboring region Davao. The impact of the said earthquake was greatly felt in several areas throughout Caraga with a damaging intensity IV as reported by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).
With buildings yet to be completely assessed for their structural integrity, Governor Santiago B. Cane Jr. of the provincial government of Agusan del Sur (PGAS) declared a province-wide suspension of classes for all levels in both public and private institutions, as well as work in government offices. He also encouraged the suspension of work in the private sector anticipating the extent of possible damages left by the earthquake.
“Mandatory inspection and assessment of all buildings by our Engineering office is likewise ordered prior to re-occupancy of buildings within the provincial government center including hospitals and provincial jail,” he said.
The governor also ordered the heads of offices to conduct a thorough evaluation of their buildings to ensure their stability and the safety of their employees, or else, they will not be permitted to continue their operations within their office premises. “The safety of the students, teachers, and everyone else is of paramount importance,” he added.
Classes and work suspensions in other municipalities and cities from the other provinces shortly followed, sharing the same sentiment as that with PGAS.
On Oct. 11, a day after the strong Davao earthquake, another one struck Caraga, this time within its own waters, centering at Cagwait, Surigao del Sur with a magnitude 6.2. On Oct. 17, another earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 once again disturbed the region, with its epicenter located at General Luna, Siargao Islands in the province of Surigao del Norte.
Barbers immediately announced the localized suspension of classes and government work throughout the province via Facebook live, maximizing his page’s reach to expedite the wide dissemination of the important information to his constituents.
He also reminded his municipal leaders that although they can all exercise the same power, they must remember that the localized suspension would still depend on the extent of the impact to their respective municipalities based on reports on the ground and not from mere speculation.
“We will be posting the executive order of the localized suspension shortly on the LGU and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office’s official Facebook pages for your reference. For now, let us continue to exercise vigilance especially with the possible aftershocks that may occur. Stay safe, Surigao,” he added.
Aside from the LGUs of Surigao del Norte, cities and municipalities from other provinces that also felt the impact of the earthquakes likewise ordered the localized suspension of classes and work within their respective jurisdictions. These include the cities of Butuan and Cabadbaran, and the entire province of Agusan del Sur.
In light of the recent seismic events that have shaken the region, the proactive empowerment of LCEs stands as a crucial safeguard for community resilience, according to the local officials. By equipping municipal and provincial leaders with the authority and resources to act swiftly, the government reinforces disaster preparedness and public safety. (NJGD/PIA Caraga)
