Cebu: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has deployed a 'full arsenal' of relief and recovery support for families affected by the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Cebu Tuesday night. Assistant Secretary Leo Quintilla, concurrent officer-in-charge (OIC) of the DSWD's National Resource and Logistics Management Bureau (NRLMB), said the agency has ensured the delivery of food, water, shelter, and psychosocial services to quake-hit communities, while also preparing for early recovery interventions such as the emergency cash transfer (ECT) program.
According to Philippines News Agency, Quintilla emphasized the DSWD's commitment to mitigating the effects of the earthquake and responding to the needs of the affected areas. This initiative aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to provide immediate and adequate assistance to the affected families. The DSWD has partnered with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to deliver ready-to-eat meals to Bogo City, one of the hardest-hit areas in northern Cebu, despite potential challenges with road accessibility.
Furthermore, the DSWD has deployed a mobile command center, water filtration trucks, water tankers, and mobile kitchens to Cebu. Quintilla highlighted the provision of water filtration kits, food packs, and ready-to-eat food to ensure a steady supply of essentials, given the disruption to local water systems.
The Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) of the DSWD is also dispatching 100 family tents and shelter-grade tarpaulins for Cebuanos whose homes were damaged by the earthquake. The immediate need for shelter is being addressed as aftershocks continue to affect the region, displacing at least 4,000 families, or approximately 20,000 individuals, outside evacuation centers.
Quintilla also mentioned the strategic stockpile of 422,000 food boxes in Cebu, produced at the Visayas Disaster Resource Center, to reassure the public of the government's ongoing support. Nationwide, the DSWD has 2.3 million boxes of family food packs prepositioned across various hubs to ensure a quick response.
In addition to immediate relief, the DSWD is providing psychosocial support services to help survivors cope with trauma. Neighboring field offices have dispatched teams of social workers to assist families in evacuation centers and communities. Burial assistance will also be provided to families who lost loved ones in the disaster.
The department is preparing to implement the emergency cash transfer (ECT) program as part of its early recovery strategy. Quintilla noted that cash assistance offers flexibility, allowing recipients to purchase necessities such as roofing materials or food. Despite the focus on Cebu, the DSWD is conducting simultaneous relief operations for those affected by tropical cyclones Opong and Nanding.
