CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (PBBM) and Vice President Sara Duterte yesterday (October 2), visited Bogo City, the epicenter of the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck northern Cebu on September 30, to meet some of the victims, and lead relief operations.
The country’s two highest officials are making parallel efforts to assist communities and the people affected by the devastating earthquake that claimed lives, damaged infrastructure, and displaced hundreds of families.
The quake displaced an estimated 65,000 families across the province, prompting the government to prioritize water, food, and shelter needs.
PBBM assured residents of sustained national government assistance, including a ₱150 million rehabilitation fund. Of this, ₱50 million will go to Cebu province, ₱20 million each for Bogo City, San Remigio, and Sogod, and ₱10 million each for Bantayan, Daanbantayan, Madridejos, Santa Fe, Tabogon, Tabuelan, and Medellin.
PBBM also announced additional support to affected towns based on assessed needs. “Magre-release kami nang kaunting tulong, both from the Office of the President… in the form of LGSF or Local Government Support Fund.”
The funds, he said, will support relief operations, infrastructure rehabilitation, and the provision of essential services, emphasizing that rehabilitation will be a continuing effort.
“This is not a one-time release. We will continue to monitor, coordinate with local leaders, and ensure that rehabilitation is on track and all necessary support is provided,” he said.
In Bogo City, PBBM inspected the damaged City Hall and hospital, as he emphasized the need for immediate shelter solutions
“Nandito ngayon tayo sa lungsod ng Bogo para tingnan ang mga naging problema na dinala ng lindol noong isang araw,” he said yesterday.
“At ang pinakamalaking damage na dinala ng lindol ay infrastructure damage, mga building, tapos ‘yung mga kagaya sa ospital. Ito tingnan ninyo itong City Hall. Ganyan talaga ang naging effect.”
PBBM emphasized that aid distribution should not be restricted by ration cards, saying families will receive based on actual need. “Basta kung ilan ang kailangan nila, they can have as many as they need,” Marcos said, noting that non-cash assistance programs are already in place.
PBBM led the distribution of hot meals prepared by the DSWD-7 mobile kitchen and visited the DSWD Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) station, where families who lost their loved ones sought bereavement assistance.
The DSWD has deployed its Quick Response Team, relief vehicles, and family food packs, while bereaved families are receiving financial assistance. Each displaced household that lost its home will also receive an initial ₱10,000 cash aid.
“Binibigyan natin ng P10,000 na cash assistance at least sa umpisa. Kung kailangan pa nila baka maulit,” PBBM said.
To help health facilities recover, Marcos also released ₱20 million for all Department of Health (DOH) hospitals in Cebu and an additional ₱5 million each for provincial hospitals.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported that around ₱5.6 million worth of aid has already been delivered from the DSWD and other LGUs.
Relief operations are also ongoing, with 6,800 family food packs and 2,000 ready-to-eat meals already distributed to displaced residents across northern Cebu as of yesterday.
The DSWD assured that it has ₱60.6 million in standby funds to sustain continuing relief operations.
Tent cities
Acknowledging the widespread damage to homes and evacuation centers, PBBM ordered the establishment of tent cities in Bogo City to temporarily house displaced families. The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) will provide large, weather-resistant tents previously used during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“These tents are quick to set up and can withstand rain. Each site will be equipped with food, water, and power supply through generator sets,” he said after a situation briefing at the quake-damaged Bogo City Hall.
“Kaya ang pinag-usapan namin, ang desisyon namin, ang gagawin natin kukuha tayo ng mga tent na malalaki at itatayo natin — kagaya ng sinabi ko sa ating mga LGU executives — ito ‘yung mga tent ng Red Cross na ginamit noong COVID. At ito ay mabilis itayo at kahit umulan hindi problema,” he added.
The tent city will be equipped with food, water, electricity via generators, and other essential services. Titiyakin natin na may food supply, may water supply, may kuryente kung kailangan mag-genset. Kung anuman ang pangangailangan ng tao ay titiyakin natin na mayroon,” PBBM said.
VP Sara visits
Duterte visited some affected towns up north, ahead of President Marcos Jr., focusing on areas with less attention. Aside from Bogo City, she visited Medellin, Bogo, and San Remigio to condole with bereaved families, assess damage, and highlight urgent needs such as electricity, water, stress debriefing for traumatized residents, and structural assessments of damaged homes.
Sara spent two days in Cebu, visiting disaster-hit towns. On the first day, she went to Medellin where she met with the mayor and inspected the disaster response center. The following day, she traveled to Bogo City to visit wakes of victims, families staying outside their damaged homes, and residents sleeping along roads and highways out of fear of aftershocks.
In her assessment, Sara said she identified the most urgent needs of quake victims: electricity, water, stress debriefing, and structural assessment of houses.
She visited San Remigio, where she paid respects to two fatalities, and a barangay in Bogo affected by a deadly landslide. There, the Office of the Vice President Disaster Operations Center (OVP-DOC) and the OVP Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor Satellite Offices are conducting relief operations.
The Kalusugan Food Truck (KFT) was also deployed to serve hot meals to frontliners, volunteers, and earthquake survivors. “Kasabay ng pagtulong sa mga apektadong pamilya, layunin ng OVP na maalalayan din ang mga bayaning nasa unahan ng pagtugon sa oras ng sakuna,” the OVP stated.
Sara took time to be with the families of those who died due to the earthquake in Tabogon. She also expressed sympathy and encouragement to the people of Cebu and the Visayas.
“Sa akong mga kaigsuonan sa Cebu ug uban pang mga isla sa Visayas, Kinasingkasing nga pag-ampo ug pahasubo sa tanang apektado sa linog nga mitay-og sa Visayas. Nasayod ako nga dili matugkad ang kasakit nga inyong gibati ug ang kalisod nga inyong giatubang karon. Apan taliwala sa gibilin nga kadaot sa trahedya sa inyong mga pamilya ug komunidad, dili unta kamo mawad-an og pagsalig ug paglaom. Magsilbi unta kamong tinubdan sa kakusog, kamaayo, ug kadasig sa tanan,” VP Sara told the crowd.
She added, “May you find strength in one another, and may the legendary Visayan warmth and resilience shine through amidst this deep sorrow. Shukran.”
Power, water restoration
On power restoration, PBBM inquired which areas remained without electricity. He was told that, as of Thursday evening, Tabuelan, Tuburan, and Medellin were still without power.
Energy officials reported that two operational switches have been restored in Daanbantayan and Compostela, with hopes to achieve full integration of the power system by Friday.
“I think people can understand that we have to be careful before we switch the entire system on, kasi baka maaksidente at makuryente,” the President explained.
PBBM later announced that electricity in Bogo City would be restored by the end of the day, with full restoration across northern Cebu targeted on Friday. Water purification units will also be deployed to address the shortage of potable water.
Power restoration efforts are progressing steadily, with 16 out of 24 feeders already re-energized,.The remaining eight feeders, affecting about 64,000 households, are expected to be restored by Friday.
By noon yesterday, four more feeders are set to become operational as all household connections must be checked individually to ensure safety and prevent compromised lines.
The gradual restoration follows strict safety protocols, with officials assuring that full integration of power supply will be achieved by Friday.
“I am assured by the Department of Energy, Secretary Sharon Garin, that Bogo will have electricity complete for the entire city by the end of today,” PBBM said, while confirming that the local hospital has been cleared already for safe use.
“Ang DPWH nakapagpadala na ng mga engineer. Tiningnan ‘yung ospital at ngayon kini-clear na nila, safe na ‘yung ospital. Puwedeng ibalik sa loob na ang mga pasyente,” the President told the crowd.
To address water shortage, the MMDA deployed 20 water purification units, each capable of filtering 18 gallons per minute. The agency is coordinating with the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) to identify priority areas. Additional water units are expected to arrive in the coming days to expand the purification and supply capacity.
National, local executives on the ground
The President was joined by Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Undersecretary Diana Rose Cajipe, Assistant Secretary Ulysses Hermogenes Aguilar, and Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero, along with DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon.
Baricuatro and northern Cebu mayors presented damage reports, highlighting urgent needs such as food, safe water, and temporary shelter.
Baricuatro expressed gratitude for the national government assistance, saying she initially planned to request rehabilitation funds for damaged city and municipal halls but held back after seeing the sufficiency of the allocations.
“Pag dayon niya’g lakaw niingon siya nako nga kung naa pajud ka og kinahanglanon, tawag lang,” Baricuatro shared to reporters PBBM’s words to her.
The governor also revealed that on the very night of the earthquake, she immediately reached out to the President for help. “That was the first thing I did,” she said.
Senators mobilize relief
Senator Camille Villar’s office distributed mineral drinking water to affected families as part of her immediate relief operations.
“In times of calamity, access to clean water is one of the most urgent needs of our people. We want to assure our kababayans here in Cebu that they are not alone in this crisis. Their health and safety must remain our top priority,” she said.
Villar’s office continues to coordinate with local government units in Cebu to explore additional ways to extend support to affected communities as recovery efforts move forward.
Senator Imee Marcos is sending thousands of drinking water and Nutribuns to affected residents of Bogo, San Remegio, Medellin, Daanbantayan, Tabuelan and Tabogon.
The Malasakit Team of Senator Bong Go distributed meals, food packs, porridge, and drinking water to evacuees at the Cebu Provincial Hospital, Bogo City Hall Grounds, and San Remigio Evacuation Center.
Senator JV Ejercito, in partnership with The Good One Foundation Inc., turn over 2,500 sacks of rice to the Cebu Provincial Capitol, while 2,000 bottles of water were delivered directly to the town of Medellin.
Red Cross, RAFI response
The Philippine Red Cross has mobilized family tents, food supplies, ambulances, and medical teams, ready to support camp management once tent city sites are finalized.
PRC Chairman Richard Gordon swiftly mobilized PRC assets from warehouses in Manila, Cebu, and Subic, including prepositioned medical and family tents, food supplies, and emergency equipment ready for rapid dispatch to the hardest-hit communities.
Currently, PRC is on standby and awaiting the go-signal from the LGU, which is identifying an open area where the tent city can be set up. Once the site is confirmed, PRC will also assist in camp management to ensure safety, order, and proper living conditions for displaced families.
“We are here to alleviate the suffering of our countrymen. The Red Cross will move fast and be on the ball in mobilizing tents as temporary shelter, delivering food and water for sustenance, deploying ambulances and blood units for lifesaving response, and sending in fully equipped rescue and medical teams and even portalets,” said Gordon.
On the other hand, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) has also activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to coordinate relief and recovery with the Cebu Provincial Government and LGUs.
The EOC will work closely with the Cebu Provincial Government, LGUs, and partner organizations to ensure an efficient and effective response. More details on how other organizations and individuals can show support in the relief operations once assessments are complete.
| Written by Mitchelle Palaubsanon, Caecent Noot-Magsumbol and Jonnavie Villa/RAE
