The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said it will release P375 million to help jumpstart the rehabilitation efforts in Cebu province following the devastation caused by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake.
Through the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF), the DBM will release P150 million for the entire province of Cebu, while P75 million each will be allocated for San Remigio, Bogo City, and Medellin.
This aims to accelerate relief operations and initial rehabilitation in the areas severely affected by the earthquake.
The entire province of Cebu has been placed under a state of calamity after Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro signed Executive Order No. 57, allowing faster access to funds and the immediate implementation of rescue, relief, and rehabilitation measures.
The DBM assured that the national government has sufficient funds to quickly respond to the needs of the province. In a statement, DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman emphasized that government aid to earthquake victims must not be delayed.
“Our government is prepared. We have standby funds that can be tapped immediately to deliver assistance to those affected. In moments like this, government aid must never be delayed,” Pangandaman added.
As of Thursday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) still has P5.3 billion available that can be used for broader rehabilitation efforts and the repair of infrastructure damaged by the earthquake.
This comes after the DBM released the Quick Response Fund (QRF) replenishment for the Department of Social Welfare and Development (P625 million) yesterday and for the Department of Public Works and Highways (P1 billion) today.
The 6.9-magnitude quake struck at 9:59 p.m. on September 30. Based on the latest reports, 72 people have been confirmed dead and nearly 300 injured in Cebu.
Various infrastructures such as buildings, bridges, schools, and churches were damaged, including the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima, which collapsed after the quake.
Currently, more than 2,600 families remain in evacuation centers due to continuing aftershocks.
President Marcos is closely monitoring efforts to identify evacuation areas for the 65,000 displaced families.
