By Elijah Felice E. Rosales & Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas
THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Tuesday declared a price freeze in Pampanga a day after it got severely hit by a 6.1-magnitude earthquake that shook Luzon. The provincial government also pushed for a province-wide state of calamity after one was declared over the worst-hit town of Porac, where rescuers raced against time to find dozens of people missing—believed buried in the rubble of a four-story supermarket that collapsed during Monday’s earthquake.
Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda explained the move, noting that the tremor also damaged not only buildings, roads and other infrastructure but even houses, forcing the evacuation of residents, including in the town of Guagua. Disaster officials put the death toll at 16 as of Tuesday, expressing hope that all the missing would be found alive.
Damage to dams and irrigation systems was placed initially at P50 million, according to Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol.
In a text message to reporters, Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said a price freeze is in effect in the Central Luzon province.
The Provincial Legislative Board decided to place Pampanga under a state of calamity, automatically triggering the imposition of a price freeze.
Under the Price Act, prices of basic necessities are maintained at their prevailing numbers or placed under automatic control in areas proclaimed under a state of calamity or state of emergency. Unless sooner lifted by President Duterte, the price freeze shall remain effective for the duration of the condition that brought it about—in this case the damage wrought by the earthquake—but not for more than 60 days.
The trade chief can also recommend to the President the imposition of a price ceiling for the sale of basic necessities if prevailing prices are found excessive or unreasonable.
Damaged dams
THE tremor that struck on Earth Day (Monday) has caused P50 million worth of damage to government dams and irrigation systems in Central Luzon, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.
In a damage report released to media on Tuesday, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) said as of April 23 it has recorded damage to five dams in four provinces.
Based on the report, Cong Cadong Dam in Arayat, Pampanga, suffered the most infrastructure damage, estimated to cost about P20 million.
Two dams in Bataan reported a total damage of P15 million: Mangindong Dam in Dinalupihan had an estimated damage of P10 million and Balsik Dam in Hermosa, P5 million.
In Zamabales, where the earthquake’s epicenter was located, two dams incurred a total damage of P15 million. Bucao Intake reported P10 million in damage, while San Pablo communal irrigation system sustained P5 million worth of damage.
All the damaged dams require immediate repair, according to the report, which was prepared by NIA Regional Office 3.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said the damage to the dams was “very minor” and would not disrupt agricultural activities in the region.
Piñol was in Pampanga to join fellow Cabinet and government officials in assessing the situation in the area following the earthquake.
“We’re relieved that the damage actually is very minor. There’s not much damage in agriculture,” Piñol said in an interview with reporters in Pampanga.
NIA Spokeperson Pilipina Bermudez told the BusinessMirror that the speed of the repair of the dams would depend on the “extent of the damage and availability of funds.”
Responding to a query from BusinessMirror, Piñol said, “No, these are minor damages which could be repaired easily.” Damage to the dams had been feared to affect the flow of irrigation to farmers already reeling from the impact of a weak El Niño, which has resulted in hotter weather nationwide.
Casualties
THE NDRRMC tallied 16 dead, 81 injured and 14 still missing from Monday’s earthquake, which struck at 5:11 p.m., with the epicenter in Castillejos, Zambales, and which was also felt in most parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila.
It said five of the casualties were from the collapsed Chuzon Supermarket in Porac, Pampanga, and seven others were killed in other barangays of the same town. Two were also killed in the town of Lubao, and one in Angeles.
The NDRRMC said that at least 29 buildings and infrastructure were also damaged in the National Capital Region and in the whole of Region 3, adding it was expecting the damage to increase as assessments are ongoing.
The NDRRMC said power was restored in the provinces of La Union and Pangasinan while utility personnel are working to restore it in Pampanga and Bataan.
Pineda spoke as rescue workers, including soldiers and their equipment, worked through the debris of Chuzon Supermarket, hoping to recover people that might still been trapped or pinned down, nearly 24 hours after it went down.
In the National Capital Region, the NDRRMC said the temblor also damaged the buildings of the Emilio Aguinaldo College, the Anchorage Hotel, Sun Tower and Anchor Land Sky Suites in Manila and the GA Tower in Mandaluyong City.
In Bataan, three hospitals and two malls were damaged.
Private sector
MEANWHILE, Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, whose Congress constituency includes some of the worst-hit areas, said the private sector has deployed rescue teams and equipment to help earthquake-hit Pampanga.
Arroyo said companies such as PLDT, Meralco, Philex Mining Corp., the Makati Business Club, Ayala Corporation and the Philippine Disaster Response Foundation (PRDF) jointly chaired by Manny Pangilinan and Jaime Zobel de Ayala offered generator sets, floodlights, choppers and equipment for road clearing operations.
“I’m trying to acknowledge those who are already sending help, and we are very grateful to them for their support,” she said.
“I’m grateful that everybody is doing everything to save lives and helping the injured, as much as possible, to the extent we can restore normalcy. I ask for the prayers of the Filipino people,” Arroyo added.
With Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz, Jonathan Mayuga and Rene Acosta