By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday assured Cebuanos that the government will continue to provide assistance in Cebu as it reels from the aftermath of the powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck the province.
During his visit in Bogo City, the President said that earthquake survivors, especially those who have been displaced, will also receive P10,000 to support their recovery.
“I would like to assure everybody na hindi tayo mauubusan ng pagkain, hindi tayo mauubusan ng tubig para sa ating mga naging biktima,” he said in a media statement.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) leads the provision of hot meals, ready-to-eat food (RTEF) boxes, and family food packs (FFPs), as well as non-food items to the calamity victims.
DSWD Sec. Rex Gatchalian said a mobile water filtration truck was also deployed to provide clean water to residents.
As many people are afraid to enter buildings due to widespread infrastructure damage, many were forced to stay outside evacuation centers. Recognizing their concerns, Marcos ordered a “tent city” to be put up in Bogo City to temporarily shelter displaced residents.
“Ang gagawin natin kukuha tayo ng mga tent na malalaki at itatayo natin—kagaya ng sinabi ko sa ating mga LGU executives—ito ‘yung mga tent ng [Philippine Red Cross] na ginamit noong [COVID-19 pandemic]. At ito ay mabilis itayo at kahit umulan hindi problema,” the President said.
The tent city will also come with facilities to provide basic needs of residents, including water and electricity.
“Titiyakin natin na may food supply, may water supply, may kuryente kung kailangan mag-genset. Kung anuman ang pangangailangan ng tao ay titiyakin natin na mayroon,” he stressed.
Electricity in the entire city will also be restored by the end of the day after power was cut off from the grid due to the earthquake, citing assurance from Energy Sec. Sharon Garin.
Patients who are being attended to in the parking lot of the Cebu Provincial Hospital may now also be returned inside the hospital premises after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) cleared Buildings 20 and 21 as safe.
Marcos likewise assured that all victims of the earthquake in Cebu who sustained injuries or require hospital care will be covered by zero balance billing.
In a situation briefing with agency heads and local officials at Bogo City Hall, the President disclosed that the Office of the President (OP) will be donating P180 million in financial assistance to the Cebu provincial government as well as various local government units severely affected by the earthquake.
“And I assured all of our local executives that this is not—hindi ito minsanan lang. Baka naman isipin ninyo na pag-alis namin dito tapos na lahat. Hindi,” Marcos said.
“We will continue to monitor. We will continue to coordinate with the leaders—the local leadership to make sure that maganda ang takbo ng ating rehabilitation and all the support na binibigay natin,” he added.
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