After months of waiting, families displaced by fires and landslides earlier this year have finally received financial assistance from the Cebu City Government.
Mayor Nestor Archival, together with Department of Social Welfare Services (DSWS) head Portia Basmayor, personally led the distribution of aid at Cebu City Hall, ensuring that beneficiaries who were not covered during the initial rollout received their assistance.
The latest payout benefited 189 recipients from 13 barangays, including Inayawan, Guadalupe, Tisa, Tinago, Tejero, Mambaling, Talamban and Kalunasan. Homeowners affected by the disasters received P20,000 each, while renters were granted P10,000.
The additional funds were secured by the Cebu City Treasurer’s Office to address shortages encountered during the first phase of distribution, which had been constrained by limited resources.
‘We understand the hardship they have gone through because of the fire. Through this assistance, we hope to help them rise again and start anew,’ Archival said.
The mayor assured beneficiaries that the city government would continue to support them throughout their recovery.
‘The Cebu City Government is always with you and ready to help until you can fully recover,’ he added.
Basmayor said the financial aid forms part of the city’s ongoing disaster response efforts, which began in January after a series of calamities displaced hundreds of families.
Among the major incidents this year was a fire in Barangay Ermita that left nearly 100 families homeless. Several upland barangays also experienced landslides that damaged homes, properties and sources of livelihood.
In the aftermath of the disasters, the city government provided temporary shelters, food packs and housing materials, while coordinating with national agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for additional assistance.
Basmayor noted that schools and gymnasiums initially served as evacuation centers but could only be used temporarily as classrooms needed to be prepared for the reopening of classes.
She said the city continues to explore alternative shelter arrangements while ensuring that financial aid and housing materials reach affected residents.
Archival, who personally visited several disaster-hit communities, stressed that the city’s commitment extends beyond immediate relief efforts.
‘We will not abandon our constituents. This is about helping them rebuild their lives and ensuring that no family is left behind,’ he said.
The latest release of financial assistance underscores the city government’s effort to address gaps in earlier distributions and sustain recovery programs for communities affected by disasters.