Quake-displaced individuals receive financial aid

CEBU, Philippines — Nearly eight months after the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck northern Cebu, affected residents in Medellin and Daanbantayan have started receiving the P10,000 calamity cash assistance from the Cebu Provincial Government.

A total of 1,394 beneficiaries received the aid during the first payout held yesterday, May 20, at the Medellin Sports Complex.

Of the total number, 1,092 beneficiaries were from Medellin, while 302 came from Daanbantayan. The recipients were among families whose houses were declared totally damaged during the earthquake.

Aside from the cash assistance, each beneficiary also received 10 kilos of rice under the national government’s “Benteng Bigas Meron Na!” program.

The distribution marked the first set of earthquake assistance released by the provincial government following the approval of disaster recovery funds by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP).

EMOTIONAL TURNOUT

The payout activity drew large crowds of beneficiaries, many of whom arrived early at the venue.

At one point during the distribution, Governor Pamela Baricuatro personally intervened to manage the crowd after some beneficiaries surged forward during the payout process.

In an interview, Baricuatro admitted she became concerned after seeing elderly beneficiaries caught in the crowd.

“Wala namay proseso ang mga tao nag tukmuray. Nahadlok ko basin naa’y mamatay simbako, mga senior raba ang naa sa atubangan,” the governor said.

She said the incident exposed weaknesses in crowd management and coordination that must be improved in succeeding payout schedules.

“After this one, I will meet with the PSWDO to find a way nga kinahanglan naa silay proseso. Even the placement importante kaayo ang placement sa chairs. The process, unahon gyud ang mga senior,” she said.

Baricuatro added that future distributions would require stronger coordination with local government units to ensure orderly payouts.

“This is a learning for us nga dapat they help with giving out the list. It’s always about coordination and collaboration,” she added.

For their part, Medellin Mayor Edwin Salimbangon thanked the provincial government for extending financial assistance to families whose homes were heavily damaged by the earthquake.

“Dako kaayo na og tabang ilahang madawat karon. Mao ni ang totally damaged nga houses sa panahon sa linog. Guba jud ni ilang mga balay,” Salimbangon said during the activity.

He also described the beneficiaries as grateful after finally receiving additional assistance months after the disaster.

Meanwhile, Daanbantayan Mayor Gilbert Arrabis Jr. also expressed gratitude to the provincial government for assisting affected residents in his town.

“Human sa linog, ang Cebu Provincial Government through Governor Pam Baricuatro dako kaayong tabang sa akong lungsod,” Arrabis said.

The cash assistance came months after provincial officials acknowledged delays in the release of disaster aid and the implementation of recovery programs due to issues surrounding the approval of trust funds.

In a previous article, Assistant Provincial Administrator Aldwin Empaces said the provincial government was supposed to have responded sooner to families affected by both the earthquake and Typhoon Tino.

The Provincial Board later approved the utilization of P473.58 million in disaster funds intended to support Cebu’s recovery efforts following the twin disasters that struck the province in 2025.

Based on initial data from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), around 10,500 families were affected by the earthquake, while approximately 14,200 families were impacted by Typhoon Tino.

Another round of aid distribution for earthquake-hit residents is scheduled on May 21 in the municipality of San Remigio. — Ashley Chad Jopia CTU-Tuburan Interns/IHM (FREEMAN)