As directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to extend comfort and urgent assistance to families affected by the 6.9 magnitude earthquake in Cebu, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will provide burial assistance and cash aid to those who lost loved ones in the September 30 earthquake.
Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) stated that the families of the deceased will receive PHP 10,000 cash assistance. DSWD also commits to covering the funeral expenses.
“The DSWD Field Office 7 – Central Visayas is now accounting for the number of casualties and their locations. Our social workers are coordinating with the bereaved families to inform them of the Department’s assistance,” Asec. Dumlao, who also serves as the DSWD spokesperson, said on Wednesday, October 1.
The death toll from the earthquake continues to rise, with more injured and missing individuals reported by the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO). Cebu Province has since been placed under a state of calamity to enable quicker mobilization of resources, relief, and rehabilitation.
The Chief Executive directed DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian to proceed from Masbate to Cebu and oversee the distribution to earthquake-hit families.
Currently, the DSWD maintains Php 379 million in standby funds and has 2.4 million family food packs (FFPs) prepositioned nationwide. The Visayas Disaster Response Center (VDRC), located in Mandaue City, continues to produce FFPs daily to ensure the replenishment of supplies.
“The Department has enough stockpiles of food and non-food relief supplies as well as standby funds to augment the resources of the affected LGUs. Our Quick Response Teams (QRTs) are already activated, and they are already on the ground to support the needs of the affected families,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
DSWD 7 has already deployed its two QRTs to the Emergency Operations Center in Bogo City, which will serve as headquarters for disaster response efforts in the northernmost parts of Cebu.
The teams will conduct assessments of displaced individuals and families and extend appropriate interventions, including the provision of family food packs, Ready-to-Eat Food, burial and financial assistance, as well as the establishment of evacuation camps to serve as temporary shelters for affected families.
As part of its intensified disaster response, DSWD Field Office 7 has deployed its disaster response vehicles to support operations. The fleet, which includes the Mobile Command Center, Mobile Kitchen, Water Tanker, and Water Filtration System, will be deployed to provide logistical and operational support in the ground operation.
Secretary Gatchalian instructed Undersecretary Diana Rose Cajipe of the DRMG and Assistant Secretary for Community Engagement Ulysses Aguilar to oversee relief operations in Cebu, working closely with DSWD Field Office 7, led by Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero. The team is currently in Bogo City, one of the areas most affected by the 6.9 magnitude earthquake, conducting damage and needs assessments.
Aside from cash aid and family food packs, the DSWD is coordinating with local government units (LGUs) to ensure affected families are evacuated to safe areas and provided with immediate assistance.
“Yesterday, our teams were already on high alert as we were preparing for an approaching weather disturbance on top of our ongoing response to Typhoon Opong. All hands are on deck to respond to the victims of the Cebu earthquake,” Sec. Gatchalian assured.
He added, “We want to say to the affected families and individuals that we are one with you. We assure you of our assistance and help in this time of great need.” ###