Cebu: Following the powerful earthquake that hit Cebu Tuesday evening, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian immediately directed the Field Office 7 (Central Visayas) to intensify coordination with the affected local government units (LGUs) for the provision of resource augmentation to address the needs of their constituents.

According to Philippines News Agency, the magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck at around 9:59 p.m. 21 km northeast of Bogo City, Cebu. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) had monitored continuous aftershocks after the initial tremor.

"Our disaster quick response teams (QRTs) at the Central and Field Offices are on alert and have already reached out to the LGUs to assist the affected families. We know that our fellow Filipinos who had been affected are in need of urgent assistance," Gatchalian said in a statement on Wednesday.

Gatchalian assured that the agency has enough stockpiles of food and non-food relief supplies, as well as standby funds that can be readily used to augment the resources of the affected LGUs. Currently, the DSWD maintains PHP379 million in standby funds and has 2.4 million boxes of family food packs (FFPs) prepositioned nationwide. The Visayas Disaster Response Center (VDRC) in Mandaue City is also continuously producing FFPs on a daily basis to ensure the replenishment of supplies.

Aside from the provision of resource augmentation, Gatchalian said the DSWD will also assist the LGUs in ensuring that the affected families are evacuated to safe places and given the necessary assistance. "Yesterday, we are already on alert as we are preparing for an approaching low-pressure area that may enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). And disaster operations for 'Opong' are still ongoing, so our DSWD QRTs had already been on high alert. We will ensure that all hands are on deck to help with the victims of the earthquake," the DSWD chief said.

"We want to say to the affected families and individuals that we are one with you. We assure you of our assistance and help in this time of great need," Gatchalian added.