Public, private sector convergence hastens recovery efforts in Cebu

SUSTAINED RELIEF. Earthquake-affected residents in Barangay Binabag in Bogo City, Cebu receive additional family food packs (FFPs) from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Oct. 13, 2025. (Photo courtesy: DSWD FO 7 – Central Visayas)

By Zaldy De Layola | Philippine News Agency

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Sec. Rex Gatchalian on Friday said the collective action of national agencies, local government units (LGUs), and civil society organizations (CSOs) has sped up the response and early recovery efforts for the quake-hit Cebuanos.

In an interview with reporters, Gatchalian said the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for a concerted whole-of-government approach by national agencies for those affected by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake resulted in breakthroughs in the overall disaster operations, benefitting the affected families and individuals in northern Cebu.

“It’s a whole-of-government approach. Alam natin na hindi kaya ng isang sangay ng pamahalaan at ang utos ng ating Pangulo, lahat kami dapat sabay-sabay na magtatrabaho para mapagaan ang pasan-pasan na mga kalbaryo ng mga naging biktima nitong mga lindol,” Gatchalian told the Cebu media during his third visit to Cebu.

The DSWD chief pointed out that one of the instructions of the President was the establishment of tent cities to provide temporary safe shelters for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Cebu.

Around 1,227 families are currently residing in the five tent cities set up through the efforts of the national government agencies.

Gatchalian said that in San Remigio, the temporary housing for the IDPs is composed of family tents from the DSWD, while the modular housing units called ‘smart houses’ were built by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development.

The DSWD also ensures the provision of hot meals for the displaced families through its four mobile kitchens currently stationed in Bogo City and in the municipalities of San Remigio, Medellin, and Daanbantayan.

The DSWD serves as the camp manager for the San Remigio tent city where women and child-friendly spaces have been established.

The Bogo tent city was built by the Philippine Red Cross, while the DSWD is in charge of providing hot meals daily to the IDPs.

Whether the tent cities are composed of family tents or modular housing units built by DHSUD, Gatchalian assured that the IDPs have safe and comfortable homes.

“The immediate establishment of the tent cities shows the commitment of President Marcos to provide comprehensive and speedy help for the families traumatized by the earthquake,” he said.

He also pointed out that all the other commitments of the President were delivered by the different government agencies, such as electricity, food, water, and the temporary shelters.

Gatchalian said it is difficult to estimate when the entire disaster operations will cease and full recovery is achieved, but assured Cebuanos that the whole of government will continue to work hard to help them recover and achieve normalcy in their lives.

The reported death toll due to the Sept. 30 magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Bogo City, Cebu has climbed to 79, based on the latest update of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Meanwhile, 559 people were reported injured. All the casualties are reported in Region 7 (Central Visayas) and are still subject for validation.

The NDRRMC report also said 216,947 families or 747,979 persons from 260 barangays in the same region are affected by the earthquake. (with report from Priam Nepomuceno / PNA)

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