CATIGBIAN, Bohol – Trauma, fear and loss of lives and properties left in wreckage as a result of the magnitude 7.2 earthquake still gripped the people and some close to 90,000 families in the entire province of Bohol now being considered as an internally displaced families (IDF).  But estimates showed that the affected residents in the whole of Bohol could reach as many as 400,000 if the number of municipalities affected is any gauge. In barangay Baang of this hinterland town, some 245 IDFs from nearby Barangay Bagtic still remain in make-shift tent as their temporary shelters with hundreds of children who experienced the same feeling of fear even during the post-tremor because of aftershocks, church evacuees coordinator Avelina Guille said in an interview. And another hundreds of evacuees from other neighboring barangays found their way at elementary school grounds. In a recent visit here, a group of GMA 7 disaster workers conducted debriefing sessions with and for the children in play, story-telling and other related activities in Baang parochial Plaza, where their church is also in ruins due to earthquake, Guille said.

Debriefing is a form of “emergency intervention to help people who have recently experienced major loss or suffering” from calamities such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and other form extreme situations and discomfort, property damage, or loss of friends and loved ones. It is intended “to reduce the likelihood of post traumatic stress disorder, or other psychological problems. It is also called as “Critical Incident Stress Debriefing,” Wikipedia explains. The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) has included this effort and it is one of the on-going activities being lined up to help alleviate, not only the biological needs but also of the psychological. This particular activity is conducted by Lakbay Kalinga from Manila in Sagbayan, Loon and Tubigon, according to the council’s report as presented by Gov. Edgar Chatto during the recent weekly press conference dubbed “Kita Ug Ang Gobernador” held at the governor’s mansion in Tagbilaran City. Debriefing is also necessary for the children and people in distress should follow in Antequera, another town whose public market, municipal hall and church is considered unfit for use after the earthquake, said a doctor who was with the medical mission in this town.

The family of Quirico Davis of Barangay Can-omay, Antequera is definitely in distress and his six children appeared traumatized. In an exclusive interview, Davis said he is thankful that four of his children, who were inside the house when the quake struck, were spared. But Rico, 10; Cindy, 9; Ken, 5; and Claire, 4 suffered bruises on their different parts of their body. The most affected in Rico who helped his brother and sisters hid under bed when the concrete wall of their house fell on them unexpectedly. The other two --- Rea, 7 and Angelou, 3 were outside with his wife, Candelaria, and him when it struck that fateful day. Three of his four children who were treated during the medical mission here (Antequera) looked still shocked, edginess or confused. Rico, who was most hit on his head with 12 stitches on his left ear, did not even bother the pain of injection and so with his sisters. Both (Quirico and Candelaria), who are thankful to the medical mission, for the treatment, medicines and food stuff and water, face another stressful challenge, that of rebuilding their lives back to normal and their house. (RVO)