Quake aftermath: Pamela defends Capitol response

CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES — Following criticism over delays and visibility, Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro has issued a detailed public statement defending the provincial government’s response to the aftermath of the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck northern Cebu on September 30.

Baricuatro insisted that the Cebu Provincial Government was present a few hours after the earthquake struck northern Cebu.

In her Facebook post yesterday (October 11) titled “God knows…”, Baricuatro outlined her actions hours after the quake, and that the provincial government did not stand by. She, as the Governor, led the actions to help the towns devastated by the quake, she said.

“To those asking, ‘Where was the provincial government?” Gods know, we were there—in the trenches, in the air, in the command centers, and in the hospitals—leading, coordinating, and mobilizing every resource at our disposal to save lives and restore hope,” Baricuatro said.

The governor said she convened the Emergency Response Team at 11:00 PM, bringing together department heads and the Governor’s Executive Office to activate the province’s emergency protocols, then coordinated with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), and engaged national agencies, including the Office of the President, to secure rapid assistance.

By midnight, she was at the PNP Command Center for a security briefing, and by 2:00 AM of October 1, medical teams were dispatched with support from the Department of Health and provincial board members.

Then she attended joint meeting with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to synchronize rescue and relief efforts. At 6:00 AM, she joined an aerial assessment with AFP personnel aboard a Black Hawk helicopter, landing near Bogo City Hall where she witnessed the scale of devastation.

Baricuatro said she saw the condition at the Bogo Provincial Hospital, where cadavers lay on the floor and injured patients required urgent care.

The governor added that, from coordinating with the ambulances, nearby hospitals and funeral homes just to transfer patients injured and the cadavers, she and her daughter, Dr. Nikki Catalan, Capitol health consultant, led the response efforts for those who need urgent medical care.

And while she was doing response initiatives, she remained in close contact with the PDRRMO as they carried out rescue missions, saving the lives of those still under the rubble.

Her Chief of Staff arranged meals for frontline responders, while the Capitol’s Emergency Operations Team prepared relief goods for deployment, said the governor.

Baricuatro’s post comes amid public frustration over logistical delays and perceived lack of coordination between Capitol and local government units. She said that travel from Cebu City to the northern towns reportedly took 12 to 14 hours due to traffic congestion and damaged roads, slowing the delivery of aid.

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) emphasized the need for unified operations through official channels to avoid duplication and confusion.

Baricuatro’s statement also addressed what she called “political scrutiny and baseless accusations,” describing them as part of a “political demolition job.” She reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and continued support for affected communities.

“We will not be deterred by politics. We will remain accountable and relentlessly focused on saving lives and rebuilding our communities. God knows our intentions and our efforts, and we will keep moving forward—together,” the governor said.

Baricuatro concluded her post by urging Cebuanos to stay safe, follow official advisories, and assist those in need through donations, volunteer work, or resource sharing.

Baricuatro made the socmed statement following the privilege speech of ABC President and ex officio Board Member Celestino “Tining” Martinez during the October 6 regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, where he asked the presence of the Cebu Provincial Government, while pointing the “lack of coordination” of the Province with the LGUs in the north, particulary in Bogo City, when it comes to the relief operations.

Baricuatro thanked those who helped in the relief operations in the north—from the personnel of the different government agencies to private individuals who volunteered and extended help for the earthquake victims.

While the Capitol is now on the stages of recovery and rehabilitation, Baricuatro urged Cebuanos to stay vigilant, and listen to official advisories.

Kumbati Cebu body created

Baricuatro has signed an executive order establishing Kumbati Cebu, the province’s comprehensive rehabilitation and recovery framework following the devastating Sept. 30 earthquake.

The order formally creates the Provincial Rehabilitation and Recovery Council (PRRC), also known as the Kumbati Cebu Task Force, which will serve as the central coordinating body for all rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts across the province.

The earthquake caused widespread damage to both public and private properties, particularly in the northern municipalities and cities, resulting in significant loss of lives and livelihoods.

Baricuatro emphasized the need for a cohesive, transparent, and sustainable approach to rebuilding communities, restoring livelihoods, and ensuring long-term resilience.

Under Kumbati Cebu, the Provincial Government will work closely with national government agencies, LGUs, civil society, and the private sector to deliver a unified post-disaster recovery plan.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) will serve as the Secretariat of the PRRC, providing technical, logistical, and administrative support to all cluster groups and member agencies.

The PRRC will be organized into six thematic clusters: Infrastructure and Housing; Health, Social Services, and Livelihood; Environment, Land Use, and Preparedness; Economic Recovery and Private Sector Engagement; Information, Communications, and Volunteer Mobilization; and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Accountability.

Each cluster will be led by relevant provincial offices and agencies. These include the Provincial Engineering Office and DPWH for infrastructure; PSWDO and Provincial Health Office for social and health services; and PIPO for private sector engagement.

The council’s mandate includes harmonizing all rehabilitation efforts, developing a Provincial Evacuation Masterplan, and establishing a Provincial Command and Control Center to coordinate disaster response and resource deployment.

It will also monitor and evaluate all recovery programs to ensure adherence to timelines, fund utilization, and performance indicators, while promoting transparency and citizen participation through public reporting.

The order directs the PRRC to institutionalize mechanisms for accountability and public access to information, including progress reports, financial statements, and project status updates.

Baricuatro’s order also outlines the roles of Local Chief Executives (LCEs), who will head their respective Local Rehabilitation and Recovery Councils (LRRCs) to align local programs with the Kumbati Cebu framework.

LCEs are tasked to lead coordination, submit regular progress reports, and engage community volunteers and private sector partners to ensure broad participation in the recovery process.

DSWD 2nd wave of aid completed

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has completed the second wave of food assistance for families affected by the 6.9-magnitude earthquake in northern Cebu.

“For Cebu, done na po kami sa first wave and second wave na family food packs (FFPs),” said Director Maria Isabel Lanada of the DSWD Disaster Response Management Bureau (DRMB) during the Saturday News Forum held at a restaurant in Quezon City yesterday (October 11).

To date, 443,340 family food packs (FFPs) have been distributed to families and individuals affected by the Cebu tremor.

The DSWD is also preparing to implement Emergency Cash Transfers (ECT) for the most affected families in 12 LGUs in northern Cebu to support early recovery and livelihood restoration. Lanada said DSWD’s response follows a rights-based approach ensuring the timely delivery of food, shelter, and essential non-food items.

On the other hand, as communities in Northern Cebu continue to recover from the devastating earthquake, relief assistance continues to pour in from other sources to address the immediate needs of affected families.

Among those who extended help is the Office of former Senator Manny Pacquiao, which distributed 25 kilos of rice each to 500 recipients across several hard-hit areas.

Manny Pacquiao Team partnered with TMOG Cebu (The Medical Oncologists Group of Cebu), Frontliner Treats, Kaway Resort & Spa and Oh! Caraga in distributing medicines and vitamins, mosquito nets, mats and blankets, water and food packs, tarps for tent, and emergency lights.

The relief distribution covered the following localities: 1. Bogo City—Taytayan, Pulambato, Maryville, Siocon, Libertad, Udlot, Cogon, Gairan, and nearby areas; 2. Tabuelan— Kantubaon, Kanluhangon; San Remigio—Soso, Luyang; 3. Medellin—Yolanda Housing, Kawit, Canhabagat; and 4. Daanbantayan—Maya, Talisay, Pasil.

Local officials and beneficiaries expressed their gratitude for the assistance, noting that such relief efforts bring not only food but also hope and comfort to those struggling to rebuild their lives.

More humanitarian and government aid operations are expected to continue in the coming days as recovery efforts ramp up across northern Cebu.

Aid from San Carlos seminary

The San Carlos Seminary College (SCSC) conducted a program-based donation drive to bring relief for their brothers and sisters in northern Cebu.

The charity drive was led by SCSC vice rector Fr. Charles Louis Jayme who said that he opted to integrate modern technology to expedite their needs assessment, relief distribution, and psychological first-aid for the quake victims.

“Ang efficiency niya (survey) nga ang result niya collated dayon…Makuha dayon kung ang (information) kinsa ni siya, kinsa ni nga family, asa ni nga (lugar),” he told reporters on Friday, October 10.

Jayme also shared that the online survey was first utilized by the Caritas Internationalis in 2013 during the height of the super typhoon Yolanda, which also devastated the province.
At that time, a group of IT professionals rendered their expertise free of charge to Caritas by programming a survey designed for a convenient and speedy disaster response.

With the recent earthquake in Cebu, Jayme said the same survey is used again as a tool to assess the extent of the damage and fast-track the needs of the affected population. “Sa una, mu-take time pa kay (maggamit og) papel unya dagko kaayo og gasto. Assessment lang daan dagko na kaayo’g gasto unya dugay pa kaayo,” he recounted.

“Pwede sila makagamit ani, pwede mi makagamit sa ilahang tool aron ma-expedite ang paghimo sa needs assessment,” he added.

On October 4, at least 27 seminarians from SCSC volunteered themselves and went to remote areas of the affected towns to conduct face-to-face surveys of the quake victims using their smartphones.

There, they were able to gather the needs of the victims along with their details, such as location, through the survey’s geotagging features. After the needs assessment, the distribution of relief goods followed immediately in the afternoon.

Moreover, a psychological assessment was also offered by the seminarians for the victims to lighten their emotions and cope with their traumas caused by the incident, said Jayme.

When asked what made him decide to lead the donation drive, Jayme admitted that he was fueled by his empathy and willingness to help as much as he could, with the aid of their seminarians.

“Di sad ko maka-ako sa ako kaugalingon nga kung ako’y ma kuan sa linog nga wa ko’y matabang that is in my own little capacity,” the priest said.

Based on their latest transparency report posted yesterday, the seminary was able to gather over P1.1 million worth of in-kind donations, more than P900,000 monetary donations, and has distributed a total of 1,166 bags of relief goods.

As of this writing, SCSC’s donation drive and relief operations are ongoing, and they are still open to any kind of donations.