By Brian Campued
The Office of the President (OP) will extend a total of P170 million in financial assistance in Cebu to facilitate recovery and rehabilitation in areas affected by the 6.9-magnitude earthquake in Bogo City.
During a situational briefing in Bogo City Hall on Thursday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced that P50 million will go to Cebu provincial government, while P20 million each will be given to Bogo City, San Remigio, and Sogod.
The local government units (LGUs) of Bantayan, Daanbantayan, Madridejos, Medellin, Santa Fe, Tabogon, and Tabuelan will receive P10 million each.
Marcos also earmarked P20 million for all Department of Health (DOH)-run hospitals in the province as well as P5 million each for LGU-run hospitals.
The President likewise ordered the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release P150 million to Cebu and P75 million each for San Remigio, Bogo City, and Medellin under the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF).
“This is only an initial release. We are contemplating further releases that will be coming, that will be in the pipeline,” he said.
Agency heads also discussed their respective efforts focused on restoration of power, recovery and purification of water supply, distribution of food and drinking water, and the provision of tents for displaced families, among others.
Present during the situational briefing was DPWH Sec. Vince Dizon, DSWD Sec. Rex Gatchalian, DepEd Sec. Sonny Angara, DOH Sec. Teodoro Herbosa, DOT Sec. Christina Frasco, DOE Sec. Sharon Garin, DOTr Sec. Giovanni Lopez, MMDA Chair Don Artes, and LWUA Admin. Jose Moises Salonga.
Cebu Gov. Pam Baricuatro and Bogo City Mayor Mayel Martinez were also present.
Upon arrival in Bogo City, the Chief Executive visited the SM Cares Village in Barangay Polambato, where several housing units for Super Typhoon Yolanda survivors collapsed.
He also inspected the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Vincent Ferrer in Barangay Bungtod, which sustained heavy damage after its tower, dormitory, and function hall collapsed during the earthquake.
The President also visited the Cebu Provincial Hospital in Barangay Taytayan to check on the situation of patients recovering from their injuries.
He then visited the City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy in Barangay Cogon, a public school heavily damaged during the earthquake.
Cebu has been placed under a state of calamity due to the impacts of the powerful earthquake, which struck Bogo City at 9:59 p.m. on Tuesday.
The death toll due to the 6.9-magnitude offshore Cebu earthquake rose to 72 while 294 were injured, according to the latest situational report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). The agency said these are all under validation.
The temblor has affected 47,221 families, or 170,959 individuals, and displaced 20,000 persons, according to NDRRMC’s data.
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