Apart from the Ecoland Residences 4000 which was severely damaged by the recent series of earthquakes, the city government also issued a condemnation order for the Palmetto Place Davao located in Barangay Maa.

In a statement sent to media on Saturday, Mayor Sara Z. Duterte said the condominium was recommended for condemnation after the earthquake left cracks on walls, beams, channels and posts of buildings 2 and 3 of the said complex.

“Residents of the condominiums have voluntarily vacated their units after receipt of Notice to Vacate from the Davao City Office of the Building Official,” Duterte said.

The statement further read that the search and rescue operations led by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) at the collapsed Ecoland Residences 4000 complex were concluded Thursday evening with the following findings and actions taken; nine individuals injured, zero fatality and missing victims and 20 occupants evacuated.

The Davao City Legal Office has also been ordered to probe the actions of the City Engineer’s Office, Office of the City Building Official, and the Building Administrator’s Office of Ecoland Residences 4000 in relation to the collapsed building.

“At least one person was arrested for disobedience to a lawful order in relation to the operations at Ecoland 4000,” Duterte said without giving additional details.

Meanwhile, the mayor also assured that all bridges and roads in the city were inspected and declared safe by the CEO and the Department of Public Works and Highways.

She further noted of an ongoing joint ground assessment by CDRRMO, Mines and Geosciences Bureau-Region 11, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and local officials of landslide-prone barangays in this city.

She bared that initial results of the assessment flagged Juario Village in Barangay Ma-a as a “danger zone” and village residents have been advised to evacuate immediately because of threats of an imminent landslide.

Duterte also announced that classes from kindergarten to post-graduate studies in public and private educational institutions will resume on Tuesday (November 5).

“School authorities are mandated to spend November 4 as a day to thoroughly inspect school buildings, review the earthquake action plan and disaster manual to ensure the safety of the students and employees,” she said.

School authorities, she added, should conduct earthquake and fire drills at least once a month and provide students with experts’ help who can discuss with them stress, trauma, and anxiety.

“The public is reminded to keep calm, to not panic, and to always listen and follow authorities at all times,” Duterte said. (PNA)