The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has completed the first wave of distribution and dispatch of 216,000 family food packs (FFPs) to earthquake-hit areas in northern Cebu-just three days after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s visit to the province.
‘We are pleased to inform everybody that as of last night, we have fully complied, served, and dispatched 216,000 family food packs after three days. That’s one of the fastest and largest deployments of family food packs done by DSWD,’ said DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian.
Gatchalian visited yesterday the Visayas Disaster Resource Center (VDRC) in Barangay Tingub, Mandaue City, where the food packs are produced.
He said the large-scale deployment covered the 12 earthquake-affected towns in northern Cebu.
The initiative was carried out in coordination with local chief executives and Governor Pamela Baricuatro, following a high-level meeting with President Marcos Jr. during his visit to Bogo City, the quake’s epicenter, on October 2, 2025.
Gatchalian said that while the DSWD handled the preparation and delivery of the food packs, local government units (LGUs) took charge of the ‘last mile’ of distribution since they know their communities best.
‘The national government will augment their capacity, ibibigay sa local government units yung mga food packs. Because they know their constituents and the terrain better, sila yung magdi-distribute all the way to the households,’ he said.
As of Sunday, most LGUs had completed the first wave of relief, with the DSWD now preparing for the second round of food distribution.
The agency will meet today, October 7, with Governor Baricuatro, Rep. Duke Frasco (5th District), Rep. Sun Shimura (4th District), and the mayors of affected towns to finalize logistics for the second wave of FFPs and discuss the rollout of financial assistance for affected families.
‘The food packs are meant for immediate response, but we also have to start talking about recovery. That includes financial assistance for affected families,’ Gatchalian said.
He confirmed that P10,000 cash aid has already been provided to families who lost loved ones or were injured. The emergency cash transfer program, he added, will be finalized after consultations with LGUs to assess their needs.
To sustain relief operations, Gatchalian said the DSWD’s VDRC in Cebu is operating at full capacity-producing 25,000 food packs per day, seven days a week.
‘We’re maximizing it. We’re producing 25,000 family food packs every day. Walang tigil ang deployment. The VDRC is focused solely on operations in Bogo and northern Cebu,’ he said.
Previously producing only 10,000 to 15,000 packs daily, the Cebu hub has ramped up its capacity through mechanization and volunteer support. Around 150 volunteers are helping with the packing operations, assisted by automated systems that speed up the process.
‘Because of mechanization, we can now produce 25,000 a day. So in four days, we can already complete 100,000. That’s why we were able to reach 216,000 packs in just three days,’ he explained.
Gatchalian credited local government units and district representatives for helping expedite deployment by providing additional trucks and logistical support.
‘Kaya in three days’ time, 216,000 family food packs ang nailabas. Congressman Frasco and Congressman Shimura helped with their own trucks, along with LGUs. Tulong-tulong lahat to get those goods across,’ he said.
He emphasized that the rapid response was made possible by the President’s directive for year-round preparedness.
‘Bago pa nagkaroon ng sakuna, tandaan ninyo ang instruction ng Pangulo-the preparation has to happen every day, 365 days a year. May kalamidad o wala, tuloy-tuloy ang production,’ he said, adding that the agency maintains a reserve of hundreds of thousands of food packs ready for immediate deployment nationwide.
Gatchalian assured quake victims that the government remains committed to their recovery.
‘Sa mga biktima nitong huling lindol, gusto ko malaman ninyo na ang ating Pangulo at ang buong departamento, you’re on top of our minds. Minadali natin ang deployment ng 216,000 family food packs in three days. Huwag kayo mag-alala, hindi kayo makakalimutan. Sisiguraduhin ng pamahalaang nasyonal na hanggang sa makabangon kayo muli, nandito kami,’ he said.
He added that DSWD has also coordinated the establishment of five community kitchens to provide freshly cooked meals to evacuees, complementing the distributed canned goods and dry rations.
MANDAUE CITY TO GIVE P7M AID TO QUAKE-HIT LGUS
Meanwhile, the Mandaue City Council has approved on first reading an ordinance granting P7 million in financial assistance to local government units (LGUs) affected by the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck northern Cebu last week.
City Councilor Atty. Joel Seno said on Monday, October 6, that an additional P2 million was added to the city’s initial P5 million aid. The towns of Sogod and Daanbantayan will each receive P1 million.
According to Seno, the two towns were included after situational reports received over the weekend showed the extent of damage and number of affected families in their areas.
As earlier reported, Bogo City and the towns of Medellin, Tabogon, San Remigio, and Borbon will also receive P1 million each from Mandaue City. The P7 million financial assistance will be sourced from the city’s PAGCOR funds.
Seno said Mayor Thadeo Jovito ‘Jonkie’ Ouano based the allocation on a report from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) detailing the number of affected families in each locality.
He added that other LGUs may still receive assistance once additional reports are submitted.
‘As of now, the mayor has earmarked funds for the seven identified LGUs,’ Seno said.
The ordinance is expected to be approved on second and final reading during a special session on Wednesday, October 8, at the Mandaue City Session Hall. Once approved, the assistance will be released directly to the LGUs.
‘The amount will be given to them so they can decide how to use it,’ Seno said.
In a separate interview, Mayor Ouano confirmed that Sogod and Daanbantayan were among the hardest-hit areas.
Ouano said the funds will go directly to the LGUs since they know best what their constituents need.
‘They can use it, for instance, to buy materials for rebuilding damaged houses. So, hopefully, by this week or next week, ma-distribute na nato ang cheque nga tag P1 million each ani na mga LGUs,’ the mayor said.