The Bacolod Cares Program of the city will continue to accept relief goods for the victims of the February 6 earthquake in Negros Oriental, Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said yesterday.

The Bacolod City Risk Reduction and Management Office recently reactivated the program through which the city government sent its donations to the victims of typhoon Sendong in Cagayan, Iligan and Dumaguete cities last year.

Leonardia said this is on voluntary basis and they will appreciate any donation for the victims of the earthquake.

“Since they are our neighbors, we are expected to be among the first to respond to their crisis,” he said.

He said he will also recommend to the BCRRM Council the approval of financial assistance for the areas affected by the earthquake , considering the extent of damage.

Leonardia said they sent a fire truck with 10 personnel and various relief goods to the Municiplaity of Guihulngan yesterday. The contingent was headed by Bacolod Fire Marshall Chief Insp. Pamela Rojane Candido, he said.

HELP TO GUIHULNGAN

In his letter to Guihulngan Mayor Ernesto Reyes dated February 8, 2012, Leonardia, said “We hope this small contribution on our part will augment the assistance and support you are receiving for your people.”

Candido said Interior and Local Government 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 fire trucks ready to respond in case of fire incidents in the city.

Jose Maria Vargas, BCRRM officer, said they will send bottled water, sardines and noodles from the Bacolod Cares program for the victims in Negros Oriental.

Leonardia said the Bacolod City Water District, after conducting an assessment, reported that the earthquake did not affect their facilities, while the Central Negros Electric Cooperative will submit an update to the city.

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

BUILDINGS, BRIDGES CHECKED

Bacolod District Engineer Rey Venturina said they have inspected 26 bridges and school buildings and seven government offices and assured that these facilities are safe since they have not been affected by the earthquake.

Leonardia said he has also directed the Office of the Building Official to inspect all structures frequented by the people, like the malls, hotels, schools, and 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 Aguillon said they have inspected the government center, which has been designed to withstand earthquakes, and 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 had already existed even before the earthquake occurred.

Agbones said they have already inspected about 80 percent of the 38 schools in the city.

Eliseo Ybut, a licensed structural engineer in Negros, 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 temperature cracks that were not caused by the earthquake. SM City, the Pope John Paul II Tower and the Pavillion Hotel have been constructed with concrete piles as foundation, he said.

The OBO will continue to conduct damage assessment and evaluation on all buildings, including the San Sebastian Cathedral, until they saturate the whole city, Hechanova said. *CGS

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