5.8 magnitude tremor jolts Bacolod and Iloilo

• No casualties or damage to property have been reported as of press time

â–  By Nanette Guadalquiver, Montesa Grino-Caoyonan and Karen Bermejo

Tremors jolted Bacolod and Iloilo after a magnitude 5.8 tectonic earthquake hit Cauayan town in southern Negros Occidental at 1:20 p.m. yesterday.

The tremors caused the suspension of some classes in Bacolod City, like the University of St. La Salle, West Negros University, La Consolacion College-Bacolod, University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, Riverside College, and Bacolod City College.

The Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod evacuated their students during the earthquake, but the school resumed classes after an inspection showed the school buildings were safe.

Bacolod Tay Tung High School also suspended classes while St. John's Institute did not although they allowed students to go home if parents and guardians fetched them.

Hannah Papasin-Mariveles, head of USLS Mass Communication Department, said La Salle-Bacolod was declared "close campus" to ensure the students' safety.

She said they also had to cancel the forum of Move.PH, Rappler's citizen journalism arm, being hosted by her department.

Students in public elementary and high schools across the city were also evacuated in gymnasiums and open spaces.

At SM City Bacolod situated in the Reclamation Area, building personnel and security guards also helped evacuate shoppers.

"Our emergency doors at the cinema, warehouse and other back areas were also opened," the mall's public relations officer May Castro said.

Castro added that several shops also closed for the day and allowed their employees to go home.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported that in Negros Occidental, Intensity 4 was felt in Bacolod and the neighboring Bago City and Pontevedra town; Intensity 5, in Kabankalan City and the towns of Binalbagan, Hinobaan, and Hinigaran, and Intensity 2, in Murcia town.

In Panay Island, Intensity 4 was felt in Sigma, Capiz; Nueva Valencia, Guimaras; Alimodian, while Intensity 3 hit Dao, Capiz; Patnongon, San Jose, Culasi in Antique; Masbate and Lezo in Aklan.

Jimmy Aloro, head of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of Cauayan, said in a radio interview town residents came out of their offices and other buildings seemingly shaken but nobody was hurt.

"We were contacting villages along the coastline but there has been no report of incident related to the earthquake," he said.

Aloro added that in fact, they felt stronger tremors during the magnitude 6.9 earthquake last February that devastated several areas in Negros Oriental.

Meanwhile, in Iloilo City, the public coped with the afternoon quake with ease and presence of mind as they charged through the nearby open spaces they could find.

No casualties or damage to property have been reported as of press time.

Regular transactions at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol resumed around 1:55 p.m. after Jerry Bionat, head of the Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) declared the Capitol building safe.

The PDRRMC said it is standard operating procedure for the employees to go down if an earthquake hits.

Community Affairs Officer III Marilou Sira, said she calmly walked out of their office upon sensing that the building is shaking. She said she did not panic, thanks to the yearly earthquake drills at the Capitol.

It's the third time she experienced an earthquake at the Capitol and so far, everyone was safe.

Manang Eva, a manicurist, cancelled her appointments at the Capitol because she felt ill due to the tremor.

She fears that there will be more aftershocks.

Meanwhile, Iloilo City Administrator Norlito Bautista declared a half-day off at the seven-storey Iloilo City Hall to ensure the employees' safety.*