Quezon city: Nearly PHP200 million worth of humanitarian assistance has been initially provided to more than 280,000 families in Davao Oriental and Cebu, who were affected by recent earthquakes, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced on Saturday.
According to Philippines News Agency, as of 6 a.m. on October 11, a total of PHP218,498,609 in aid has been extended to 203,493 families, encompassing 1,081,028 individuals, in Manay, Davao Oriental, and Bogo City, Cebu. As the relief efforts continue, the number of beneficiaries is expected to rise, stated Director Maria Isabel Lanada of the DSWD - Disaster Response and Management Bureau during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.
Lanada detailed that in Manay, the DSWD has distributed family food packs, ready-to-eat meals, and non-food items, including clothing kits, hygiene kits, kitchen kits, and sleeping kits, totaling PHP3,749,575. The affected demographic includes 87,931 families, representing 356,858 individuals. Social protection vehicles have been deployed to facilitate the transport of these relief goods.
The DSWD is also set to implement Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) assistance to aid families in recovering from the disaster, with ongoing facilitation of requirements and assessments. In Bogo City, family food packs and non-food items have been distributed to 201,252 families, totaling PHP214,759,033. A second wave of FFPs has already been dispatched.
Two significant earthquakes, measuring 7.4 and 6.8 in magnitude, struck Manay, Davao Oriental, on Friday morning and evening, respectively, while a 6.9 magnitude tremor affected Bogo City on September 30.
Dr. Teresito Bacolcol, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), noted that such twin earthquakes in Davao Oriental are rare. He recalled similar events in 1991 when the region experienced two significant tremors. Bacolcol emphasized the importance of preparedness, advising the public to assess structural safety and participate in earthquake drills to mitigate potential risks.
