TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur – Hinatuan Mayor Shem Garay issued Executive Order No. 33, Series of 2023, suspending the classes effective December 3 until further notice to all levels in both private and public schools following the magnitude 7.4 earthquake in the province.
This allowed the government and other concerned agencies to conduct safety inspections to evaluate the structural integrity of the school buildings after the strong earthquake.
The LGU also complied with Executive Order No. 38, Series of 2023, issued by the provincial government, which mandated the suspension of work for both government and private offices, to facilitate the assessment of the damages to all the buildings and other infrastructure within the province.
Moreover, as a tourist hub of the province and operating under the principle of public safety, all tourist destinations in the town are placed on temporary closure until these destinations have clearance to reopen and assure safety to accept locals and tourists.
This issuance enabled the LGU to accelerate and fast track the delivery of assistance to the victims of the earthquake through appropriation for calamity funds, price freeze for basic necessities, among others.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian commended these measures implemented by the municipality to address the recent earthquake during his visit in Tandag City on December 4.
“The earthquake brought huge damage to Hinatuan. But, I appreciated the LGU for providing efficient legislation to ensure the safety of the public and to better help the victims of the magnitude 7.4 earthquake,” the secretary said.
Based on the initial assessment, the town incurred estimated damage of P10.460 million on government infrastructure and P88 million on residential houses. With this, Mayor Garay, as chairperson of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, officially declared the town of Hinatuan under the State of Calamity through Resolution No. GC-62, series of 2023.(NGPB edited by RLE, PIA-Surigao del Sur)
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian attended the emergency briefing conducted by Surigao del Sur PDRRMC headed by Governor Alexander Pimentel, together with the local chief executives of the province on Dec.4 and discussed the initial assessment of the damage of the quake. (Photo: PIA-SDS)
Hinatuan Mayor Shem Garay presented the current status of the town as the epicenter of the magnitude 7.4 earthquake. (Photo:PIA-SDS)
