The Cebu Provincial Government has allocated a ?542.3-million Trust Fund to finance rehabilitation and resiliency projects in northern Cebu towns devastated by the 6.9-magnitude earthquake last month.
Assistant Provincial Administrator Aldwin Empaces said the proposed fund will cover infrastructure restoration, livelihood rehabilitation, and continuing relief assistance for thousands of displaced residents still staying in temporary shelters.
‘Looking at it in a recovery and rehabilitation lens, still applying the three fundamental approaches of disaster and resiliency work, which is a budget for preparedness, a budget for relief assistance, and a budget for recovery and rehabilitation,’ Empaces said.
Of the total amount, ?238 million has been set aside for the restoration and rehabilitation of roads and bridges, while ?49 million will go to food, non-food items, and hygiene kits for affected families.
The Capitol also plans to spend ?51 million for mobile kitchens, ?20 million for agricultural recovery-including fisheries, aquaculture, and crop rehabilitation-and ?15 million for livestock and poultry recovery, which includes repairs of slaughterhouses and farm housing.
To strengthen response capability, ?14 million is allocated for rescue equipment such as gears and drones, and another ?14 million for furnishing the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) Command Center to be stationed in Bogo City.
Other allocations include ?5.5 million for container houses and vans, ?50 million for sea ambulances, and ?10 million for vehicle and sea ambulance rentals good for one year. The province is also eyeing ?64.2 million for mobile clinics, ambulances, emergency vehicles, and motorcycles, ?2.2 million for fire extinguishers and hoses, ?1 million for flat and rescue boats, and ?1.1 million for water supply equipment.
The Capitol likewise plans to spend ?6 million to rehabilitate and repair government buildings and facilities such as the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO), the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Office, and the Assessor’s Office. The remaining ?1.3 million will fund environmental supplies and other disaster-related activities.
Empaces said the fund will be sourced from multiple streams, including the Capitol’s Quick Response Fund (QRF) from 2020 to 2024, accumulated QRF balances, and newly approved allocations in the 2025 budget. Of the ?542 million, ?371 million comes from government funds, while ?134.6 million represents donations as of October 20, 2025.
‘The total donations amount to ?134,611,077.73,’ Empaces said, adding that ?50 million came from the Office of the President and ?84.6 million from private individuals, organizations, and local government units.
The establishment of the Trust Fund follows a directive from Governor Pamela Baricuatro to ensure that all expenditures are aligned with the province’s structured recovery framework, Kumbati Cebu-the comprehensive rehabilitation and recovery program for quake-hit areas.
Under Kumbati Cebu, the Provincial Rehabilitation and Recovery Council (PRRC), also known as the Kumbati Cebu Task Force, will serve as the central coordinating body for all reconstruction and recovery initiatives across the province.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the Capitol’s assumption of management over the tent cities in Bogo, San Remigio, and Medellin, which continue to shelter displaced residents.
Empaces said the turnover from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Philippine Red Cross will begin gradually starting tomorrow, October 25, with the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) taking the lead.
‘Mag-augment mig tao, mang-hire mig JO (job order personnel),’ Empaces said, noting that full management is expected to be formalized by October 30 once staffing and operational plans are finalized.