The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday instructed local government units (LGUs) to conduct inspections of structures in their jurisdictions following a series of earthquakes across the country.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. had earlier ordered all national agencies to provide aid to affected areas and accelerate recovery efforts. In response, the DILG reaffirmed its commitment to support LGUs in prioritizing public safety, structural integrity, and rapid recovery in quake-hit communities.
According to a DILG news release, LGUs—led by building officials, municipal and city engineers, and technical staff—must perform rapid structural assessments, focusing on heavily impacted barangays and buildings showing visible cracks, partial collapses, or foundation damage. They were also directed to evaluate tilted or displaced structures affected by ground fissures, sediment venting, and subsidence before permitting reoccupation.
Residential buildings require thorough checks to gauge damage levels and occupant safety. The DILG emphasized that LGUs should assess homes and relocate families to temporary shelters if deemed unsafe.
“LGUs are also reminded to expedite the processing and issuance of permits for repair or reconstruction works necessary to rectify earthquake-related damage, ensuring compliance with national safety and engineering standards,” the DILG said.
Meanwhile, acting Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. highlighted the force’s role in calming public anxiety and maintaining order during the tremors in Davao Oriental and Surigao del Sur, as well as increased activity at Bulusan and Kanlaon volcanoes. “The visible presence of our police officers on the ground has been crucial in assuring the public that the government is in full control. The PNP immediately responded to protect lives, maintain peace and order, and support local disaster response operations,” Nartatez said in a statement.
In the Davao Region, Police Regional Office 11 (PRO-11) was placed on red alert after the magnitude 7.4 and 6.9 earthquakes struck Manay, Davao Oriental, on October 10. In the Caraga Region, PRO-13 carried out on-site inspections and damage assessments following the 6.0-magnitude quake in Cagwait, Surigao del Sur, on October 11 evening. Police stations in Bicol and Negros regions remain on heightened alert due to volcanic unrest.