An outpouring of support has flooded Northern Cebu after the recent 6.9 magnitude earthquake, but the sheer volume of donations transported to affected areas is creating a new crisis: crippling traffic gridlock, and increasing threat of geological instability.
Due to the heavy traffic going to Northern Cebu, the Cebu Provincial Government, together with the Danao City Government, is urging all donors and volunteer groups to deliver their donations through the established donation hub in Danao City instead of going directly to the affected areas.
This hub was established to help decongest the roads, consolidate all donations, and ensure a faster and more organized distribution of aid to the areas affected by the earthquake. Vehicles heading north were also urged to turn back and drop off their donations in Danao City instead.
Over the weekend, travel to the affected areas took up to 10 hours, further delaying the delivery of relief assistance.
As aid continues to arrive in large volumes to northern Cebu, Liza Socorro Manzano, a retired chief geologist from the Lands Geological Survey Division of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau’s central office, has raised concerns. She warned that the increasing weight of vehicles on the already fragile roads could lead to collapses and sinkhole formations.
Manzano’s concerns are amplified by the caution she made earlier about post-quake sinkholes, making her latest warning particularly urgent.
Hours before the hub was established in Danao City, the Cebu Provincial Government reported that donors had begun to drop off relief goods and essential items at the Provincial Donation Hub. This hub, located at the City Boardwalk near the port serving the Camotes route, aims to decongest roads, streamline distribution, and speed up delivery of aid to quake-hit towns.
However, the influx of donations resulted in hours-long traffic jams, hindering the delivery of aid to those who need it most and potentially weakening compromised road structures.
Manzano explained in brief via social media that the weight of these heavy vehicles is causing subsidence, where the ground compacts and sinks.
“Ang trak trak na donasyon paingon sa Northern Cebu dako kaayo na katabang, pero makabalaka kay modugang sa peligro ug disgrasya … Ang mga dalan kay apil man sa naapektuhan sa linog ug naay posibilidad na mahugno,” Manzano cautioned, suggesting alternative transport ways, such as via air or RORO (Roll-on/Roll-off) vessels to alleviate pressure on roadways.
She stressed the importance of prioritizing access for emergency responders and geologists assessing the ongoing risks.
The Capitol assured the public that the initiative aims to dispel concerns about donations being left idle. Items received at the provincial hub in Danao will be promptly loaded onto dump trucks and container vans for immediate delivery to the affected towns.
The Capitol said that using the large-capacity vehicles makes the operation more practical and efficient, capable in transporting far more goods than private cars. They added that this also eases the burden on individuals who might otherwise face long, traffic-congested trips to personally deliver their donations.
Authorities are urging donors to coordinate through official drop-off points, noting that the influx of private vehicles traveling north has caused heavy traffic, which in turn hampers relief and emergency operations.
Donations may also be dropped off at the Capitol Warehouse on M. Velez Street and the Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu Gym (General Maxilom Avenue Campus), as well as through other government offices and reputable organizations with established logistical capacity.
‘In this way, we keep roads clear for essential services, and ready to respond to emergencies especially that aftershocks are still felt causing landslides and road collapses,’ the Capitol said.
Capitol Public Information Office head Ainjeliz dela Torre-Orong assured the public that all relief goods delivered to the Provincial Hub in Danao City are immediately loaded onto trucks and dispatched to the affected towns. ‘It is the same situation and assurance for the relief dropped off at the Capitol Warehouse,’ she said.
However, she said that those who may be hesitant to entrust their donations to the government can instead coordinate with trusted non-government organizations (NGOs) or established private groups such as the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), Philippine Red Cross, Junior Chamber International (JCI), Lions Club International, Rotary International, Eagles Club, and the Council of Evangelical Churches.
Orong emphasized that while the generosity of donors is deeply appreciated and encouraged, the province is appealing for a more strategic and coordinated approach to ensure that well-intentioned efforts do not unintentionally cause further challenges.
Through a centralized system, she said, traffic congestion can be reduced, resources can be maximized, and assistance can be delivered more efficiently to those who need it most.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Central Visayas, under Regional Director Joel Erestain, is also pleading for a more organized approach to donation distribution.
Erestain is urging donors to coordinate with local government units or the Incident Management Team (IMT) in Bogo City to manage the flow of traffic and ensure aid reaches safely to all affected communities.
The Regional Incident Management Team (RIMT) has issued a public advisory emphasizing the need for coordination.
“For an organized distribution of relief goods and to reach the areas most in need, we encourage the public to coordinate with the local government units affected, or directly coordinate with the Incident Management Team (IMT),” the advisory states, highlighting the strain the uncoordinated influx is placing on local infrastructure.
Erestain also warned against spontaneous roadside distributions, which exacerbate traffic congestion and create potential safety hazards.
“Nakikiusap tayo. May nakikita ako na mga truck, biglang titigil sa gitna ng daan–namimigay. Sana ayusin na lang natin… Delikado ‘yan,” he stated, emphasizing the need for a structured and safe distribution system.
For those seeking to coordinate donation efforts and help alleviate the traffic crisis, the IMT can be reached at 0926-327-6397.
DSWD FOOD PACKS DISTRIBUTION
The Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 Field has distributed a total of 158,150 family food packs (FFPs) as of 4 am yesterday (October 5) to assist quake-affected families.
The relief packs were distributed to the hardest-hit areas in northern Cebu, covering the municipalities of Bantayan, Borbon, Daanbantayan, Madridejos, Medellin, San Remigio, Santa Fe, Sogod, Tabogon, and Tabuelan, as well as the City of Bogo.
Each family food pack contains two three-kilograms of vacuum-sealed rice, four cans of corned beef, four cans of tuna, two cans of sardines, and sachets of coffee and chocolate malt drink. These provisions are designed to supply the basic food needs of a family for two to three days while awaiting further assistance or recovery.
Nicasio Armamento, a farmer from Borbon, Cebu, said the family food packs he received are a big help, even if only a temporary relief to their situation.
DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero, in a statement, said the immediate distribution of food packs demonstrates the department’s commitment to respond to the urgent needs of earthquake-affected families and to augment the efforts of the affected LGUs.
‘Our priority is to ensure that no family goes hungry during this difficult time. The deployment of food packs to Cebu communities is part of our intensified relief efforts as directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.,’ said Lucero
The food packs were prepositioned at the Visayas Disaster Response Center (VDRC) in Mandaue City, which continues to produce additional relief goods daily to sustain the needs of affected families.
In situations where cooking is not possible, such as during evacuations or in areas with limited access to fuel or water, DSWD also provides ready-to-eat food boxes to ensure that immediate nourishment is available to displaced families.
Meanwhile, DSWD-7 has activated its Quick Response Teams (QRTs) to coordinate closely with LGUs and ensure the smooth and efficient delivery of assistance to affected communities.
Aside from relief distribution, the DSWD has assured families of continued resource augmentation, including non-food items, financial assistance, and psychosocial support, as part of its comprehensive disaster response.
‘We stand with the people of Cebu as they recover from the devastation of the earthquake. The Department will continue to work closely with LGUs to ensure that timely assistance reaches every affected family,’ Lucero added. –