BESIDES the national government agencies and the police force, the Philippine Postal Corp., the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) have pulled in weight to help Masbate’s storm victims and earthquake survivors in Cebu. The Makati city government also sent volunteers and material aid.
The PCSO earlier said that it has already handed out millions worth of evacuation kits and relief goods to families impacted by Typhoon ‘Opong’ in Masbate, and the earthquake in Cebu.
Covering daily deliveries through C130 flights, and the Philippine Coast Guard vessel ‘Gabriela Silang’, a larger wave of assistance is set to follow by land with a PCSO caravan scheduled to leave Manila Sunday morning on October 5, delivering more aid to both regions.
The caravan will transport substantial quantities of relief supplies to the affected provinces.
Among the resources being dispatched are 11 patient transport vehicles (PTVs) for Cebu, alongside five dump trucks from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) dedicated to carrying essential relief items.
To ensure a steady supply of aid, the convoy will also include at least five wing vans and one bus filled with crucial necessities for the families in need.
Masbate is under a state of calamity as it grapples with the aftermath of the typhoon that displaced thousands, destroyed homes, and severely impacted agricultural lands.
In Cebu, the magnitude 6.9 earthquake has left over 20,000 individuals displaced, with Bogo City, Medellin, and San Remigio among the most severely affected areas.
Thousands of residents remain in evacuation centers or have been forced to sleep outdoors due to ongoing aftershocks, highlighting the urgent need for immediate assistance.
‘We cannot turn away from the suffering of our fellow Filipinos in Masbate and Cebu,’ stated PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles.
PRC tents as shelter
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., together with DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, had personally called Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman Richard Gordon to seek the Red Cross’ assistance in deploying tents for displaced families in Northern Cebu.
Dizon, who closely worked with Gordon during the pandemic response, recalled the effectiveness of PRC tents as hospital extensions during the Covid-19 crisis.
Gordon swiftly mobilized PRC assets from warehouses in Manila, Cebu, and Subic, including prepositioned medical and family tents, food supplies, and emergency equipment ready for rapid dispatch to the hardest-hit communities.
Currently, PRC is on standby and awaiting the go-signal from the LGU, which is identifying an open area where the tent city can be set up. Once the site is confirmed, PRC will also assist in camp management to ensure safety, order, and proper living conditions for displaced families.
Dizon assured that DPWH, in coordination with DND Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, will provide full logistical support-including air transport via C-130s if necessary-to ensure the swift delivery of aid.
‘The President moved quickly and decisively. That kind of leadership is what our people need in times of crisis. His call to action allows the Red Cross and government agencies to work hand in hand in bringing immediate relief to the victims of this earthquake,’ Gordon said.
‘PRC is an auxiliary to the government. We stand ready to work with DOH, DSWD, DPWH, DND, and all agencies to ensure the welfare of our people,’ Gordon added.
PHLpost delivers hope
The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) has deployed its fleet of vehicles in Central and Eastern Visayas to support the DSWD in transporting relief supplies to families affected by the recent 6.9 magnitude earthquake in Cebu.
Postal trucks were used to deliver food packs, sleeping kits, and laminated sacks for temporary shelters to Bogo City and nearby municipalities. Postal Area 5 Director Marilyn Alcoy has been coordinating with DSWD Cebu to mobilize trucks and personnel, ensuring timely delivery of aid to evacuation centers and affected communities.
As the country’s universal service provider, PHLPost maintains a nationwide logistics and delivery network capable of reaching even the remotest barangays. The agency also keeps a standby fleet of trucks and has identified facilities nationwide that may serve as logistics hubs during disasters, enabling it to complement government relief operations.
Meanwhile, Makati Mayor Nancy Binay has ordered the deployment of a Search and Rescue Team to Cebu. The team of 12 highly trained search and rescue personnel, including four licensed nurses and EMTs, arrived in Cebu on Wednesday, October 2, to assist in relief and recovery operations in the affected areas.
The team brought critical equipment including specialized search and rescue tools, a generator set, power tools, and a drone to support operations on the ground.
SHFC freezes loan payments
Meanwhile, the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC), an attached agency under the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), has declared a one-month moratorium on housing amortization payments for partner-homeowners in communities affected by recent natural calamities.
The declaration of moratorium is in response to President Marcos, Jr.’s directive and DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling’s instruction to extend urgent support to disaster-affected communities.
The moratorium covers member-beneficiaries affected by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Cebu, as well as Typhoons Nando and Typhoon Opong in Region IV-B (MIMAROPA), Region V (Bicol), and Region VI (Western Visayas).
SHFC President and CEO Federico Laxa said the moratorium seeks to ease the financial burden of affected families so they can prioritize recovery and rebuilding.