Full impact of quake, Tino yet to determined

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu provincial government is set to convene a meeting anchored on the Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) to evaluate the full impact of the twin disasters that battered the province last year and to map out recovery efforts moving forward.

In a press conference, Governor Pamela Baricuatro said that the RDANA meeting will bring together provincial departments, local government units, and concerned agencies to determine the extent of damage and identify priority needs following the disasters.

Baricuatro said the province has already received the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) for the September earthquake, which will guide the next steps for rehabilitation and assistance.

“We just got the PDNA for the earthquake,” she said.

She also added that the provincial government is now finalizing the release of financial assistance for affected families.

The governor said the proposed ?10,000 assistance for earthquake victims is currently being cross-checked with the list submitted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“Kung unsay dili makaya sa DSWD, i-augment sa province,” Baricuatro said.

Meanwhile, Baricuatro said the PDNA for Typhoon Tino is still being completed, but the province has already begun laying out recovery plans even ahead of its finalization.

Among the projects being lined up is the construction of a dam, with the provincial government already initiating a feasibility study through the Regional Development Council (RDC).

She added that rehabilitation of damaged road networks is also underway, with several sections already repaired or undergoing construction.

The RDANA meeting is expected to consolidate data from both disasters to provide a clearer picture of the province’s recovery priorities for 2026 and beyond.

To recall, Cebu was jolted at 9:59 P.M. on September 30, 2025, when a powerful earthquake struck offshore near Bogo City, sending residents fleeing from their homes in fear.

The quake claimed 72 lives and injured hundreds, with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reporting more than 748,000 individuals affected across the province.

Northern Cebu bore the brunt of the destruction, as roads cracked, bridges weakened, ports sustained damage, and schools and hospitals suffered structural setbacks still under assessment.

Damage estimates in Cebu’s 4th District alone reached nearly ?3 billion, excluding losses to key social infrastructure.

Barely a month later, Typhoon Tino lashed Cebu on November 4, killing 96 people and displacing nearly half a million residents, many of whom spent weeks in overcrowded evacuation centers as hospitals themselves struggled after floodwaters crippled facilities, equipment, and essential services. — (FREEMAN)