Cebu: Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Wednesday assured to provide Cebuanos greatly affected by the 6.9 magnitude earthquake with food and water.
According to Philippines News Agency, Gatchalian emphasized the directive from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to prioritize immediate relief for the victims. During his visit to Bogo City, the most severely impacted area by Tuesday's tremor, he stressed the importance of addressing urgent needs such as food and water supply to the affected families.
Gatchalian traveled to Cebu directly from Masbate province, which was recently hit by Severe Tropical Storm Opong. There, he and President Marcos distributed aid, including family food packs (FFPs), to those displaced by the storm. Following the earthquake, additional FFPs were dispatched to Bogo City, and ready-to-eat food boxes are set for distribution to provide immediate relief.
The DSWD has ensured that more aid will follow to maintain continuous support for the affected region. Gatchalian highlighted that over 300,000 boxes of FFPs are stored at the Visayas Disaster Resource Center in Mandaue City, ready for deployment.
In addition to food assistance, the DSWD plans to deploy various disaster response vehicles and equipment, including Mobile Command Centers, mobile kitchens, mobile water treatment units, and water tanker trucks, all expected to be operational in the area by 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Gatchalian also promised the provincial government of Cebu that the DSWD's Field Office 7-Central Visayas would extend cash aid under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program, which includes medical and burial assistance for those affected by the earthquake.
Psychosocial support is also being prepared to assist families and individuals in coping with the trauma resulting from the disaster. For the recovery phase, the DSWD plans to provide emergency cash assistance once local government units submit a verified list of beneficiaries.
Gatchalian stated that emergency cash transfers would be made available to allow families to prioritize their needs, whether it involves rebuilding their homes or livelihoods. He instructed all DSWD field offices to remain on standby, ready to deploy personnel and resources to support the affected areas.
As of now, more than 27,000 families across 42 barangays have been impacted by the earthquake. The number of affected families is expected to rise as assessments continue.
