City extends donation drive for Mindanao quake victims

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Hall will remain open beyond regular office hours until Saturday, June 20, to accept donations for victims of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that devastated parts of southern Mindanao.

The city government said the extended schedule is intended to give more residents an opportunity to contribute to the relief effort, particularly those who are unable to visit City Hall during working hours.

Mayor Nestor Archival earlier appealed for in-kind donations, emphasizing the urgent need for food, drinking water, shelter materials, and other basic necessities in communities affected by the disaster.

The donation drive, launched late last week, is centered at the drop-off point in front of the Cebu City Hall Legislative Building, which accepts donations daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Archival said cash donations could slow down relief operations, while the direct delivery of essential goods would allow assistance to reach affected families more quickly as many continue to grapple with power outages, water shortages, and damaged homes.

“Akong hangyo: if naay mo-donate og cash, ipalit na lang,” the mayor said, encouraging donors to purchase relief items and bring them directly to the collection center.

The donated goods will be transported to General Santos City and Sarangani municipalities, including Malapatan and Glan, where landslides have blocked road networks and hampered relief operations, forcing authorities in some areas to rely on air transport.

The initiative complements the P5 million financial assistance package approved by the Cebu City Council on June 9. The fund, sourced from Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) allocations, is primarily intended to support General Santos City.

The measure was filed at the request of Archival and endorsed through Councilor David Tumulak, chairperson of the City Council’s Budget and Finance and Disaster committees.

Archival underscored the importance of extending assistance, recalling the support Cebu received from Mindanao during previous calamities.

“During the time na nagkalisod ta, daghan kaayo ang mga tao na nagtabang nato. In fact, Mindanao was also helping us. This is the right time for us to reciprocate,” he said.

The June 8 earthquake, whose epicenter was located offshore Maasim, Sarangani, struck at a depth of 33 kilometers and ranks among the strongest earthquakes to hit the region in recent years.

Data from the Office of Civil Defense and the Department of Social Welfare and Development showed that at least 65 people were killed, more than 1,400 were injured, and 36 remained missing, most of them victims of landslides triggered by the quake.

More than 624,000 individuals in 432 barangays were affected, with thousands forced to seek shelter in evacuation centers.

The earthquake also caused extensive infrastructure damage. General Santos Airport was temporarily closed after part of its ceiling collapsed, more than 8,600 schools reported damage, and power plants in Sarangani were shut down for safety inspections.

Property losses in General Santos City alone were estimated at P1 billion. — (FREEMAN)