Guv eyes personal turnover of P10 million aid to GenSan

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro said she hopes to personally hand over the provincial government’s P10 million financial assistance to General Santos City this weekend.

Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday, June 10, Baricuatro described the gesture as Cebu’s way of returning the support extended to the province during one of its own times of crisis.

She said she intends to travel to General Santos City herself, although security and accessibility assessments are still being conducted before the trip can proceed.

“I want to give it myself,” Baricuatro said.

The governor said Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) head Col. Dennis Pastor has advised caution, noting that authorities first need to determine whether conditions in the quake-hit area are safe for travel.

According to Baricuatro, Pastor explained that access to General Santos City would require passing through either Cotabato or Davao, prompting officials to carefully evaluate the situation before finalizing the turnover.

“Col. Pastor wants to check first the safety,” she said.

Pastor said they are considering sending an advance team to the area ahead of the governor’s visit to assess ground conditions and coordinate with local authorities.

“He said that they also want to make sure because they do not want the governor to be stranded there,” Baricuatro added.

Despite the logistical concerns, the governor said preparations are underway for the turnover of assistance, with provincial officials targeting the weekend for the release and delivery of the aid.

Baricuatro said she is particularly eager to personally deliver the assistance because General Santos City had previously extended help to Cebu following the devastating earthquake that struck the province last year.

The P10 million calamity assistance was authorized by the Provincial Board during its regular session this week, allowing the provincial government to extend financial support for relief and recovery efforts in areas affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that jolted Mindanao on June 8.

Baricuatro also defended the province’s decision to release the assistance, stressing that the aid is meant to augment the response efforts of affected local governments rather than replace them.

“We are just augmenting the local government unit. We are not the bida here, it is the LGU. We are here to support the LGU. So we get our list from the LGU,” Baricuatro said during the same briefing.

Apart from the financial assistance, the governor said personnel from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) and the Provincial Health Office (PHO) are also on standby for possible deployment to Mindanao.

She said the provincial government is prepared to provide additional support services, including psychosocial interventions and other forms of assistance for affected residents.

The planned assistance comes as humanitarian and damage assessment operations continue in earthquake-stricken communities.

According to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), the magnitude 7.8 earthquake has so far left 45 people dead, 630 injured, and 17 others missing, although officials said the figures remain subject to validation as response operations continue. — /MRM (FREEMAN)