By Mario Casayuran Davao del Sur Rep. Mercedes "Didi’’ C. Cagas broke down in tears Tuesday over the devastation of her legislative district caused by the recent 6.9 earthquake that hit Davao del Sur, particularly Digos city. Rescuers conduct rescue operations on a collapsed structure at a market in the quake-hit town of Padada, Davao Del Sur province, Philippines, 15 December 2019. (EFE/EPA/CERILO EBRANO / MANILA BULLETIN) Cagas was emotional over the destructive quake while she was talking to acting Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William D. Dar who appeared before a public hearing of the bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA). Dar vowed that his department would help her legislative district where many farm-to-market roads were affected. Dar later told Senate reporters that his department would respond quickly to Cagas’a appeal, including the distribution of palay and vegetable seeds if these will be needed. The public hearing on Dar’s confirmation as agriculture chief being conducted by Rep. Florencio "Bem’’ Noel, chairman of the CA Agriculture Committee, was temporarily stopped when Cagas became emotional while she was questioning Dar. Senator Francis "Tol’’ Tolentino escorted Cagas out of the CA committee hearing room as she prepared to go to her province where her house was also destroyed, forcing her family, headed by Governor Douglas Cagas, to sleep in tents. Tolentino said his office would extend help to her province. Cagas said many houses in the province, particularly in Digos city, were destroyed or damaged. She said the P11-million calamity of the province has already been depleted while helping the quake victims. "We need your prayers, for spiritual intervention,’’ the lady solon appealed. "This earthquake is no ordinary quake. There was bowling of the rocks underneath. You cannot stand up. It was so strong,’’ she told Senate reporters.