While initial relief efforts have largely focused on Bogo City following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck northern Cebu last September 30, latest data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council revealed Daanbantayan as the most severely-affected municipality in terms of population, housing damage, and humanitarian needs.
The latest situational report shows that Daanbantayan has an affected population of 90,498 individuals, slightly higher than Bogo’s 90,187.
Of these, 29,859 residents in Daanbantayan require immediate assistance, primarily food, compared to 28,001 in Bogo, where families also need sleeping kits, tents, and financial support.
Despite Bogo being the epicenter of the earthquake, Daanbantayan recorded more extensive housing damage, with 363 homes totally destroyed and 13,241 damaged.
Bogo City, in comparison, reported 158 totally destroyed homes and 2,711 partially damaged.
Other northern Cebu municipalities also suffered significant losses.
Medellin reported 371 homes totally destroyed and 4,626 partially damaged, while San Remigio recorded 2,802 totally destroyed homes and 9,842 partially.
Borbon listed 68 homes totally destroyed and 1,289 partially, and Madridejos, though not included in the housing damage breakdown, has 14,108 individuals needing food assistance.
Sta. Fe reported one home totally destroyed and 219 partially, Tabuelan had one totally destroyed and 13 partially, and Sogod listed 25 homes totally destroyed and 61 partially.
Even Tuburan and Cebu City were not spared, with Tuburan reporting two homes totally destroyed and 77 partially, and Cebu City listing one totally destroyed and two partially damaged.
The earthquake affected a total of 547,394 individuals across 205 barangays in Region 7, with 18,912 people displaced and staying outside evacuation centers.
The death toll stands at 72, with 559 injured and no missing persons reported.
A total of 35,925 houses were damaged across the region, 3,802 of which were totally destroyed. Infrastructure damage is also extensive, with hundreds of 733 public structures affected and thousands of classrooms along with some bridges, and government facilities.
The Daanbantayan public market bridge has been closed to all vehicles due to widening cracks caused by continuous aftershocks. Local authorities have designated alternative routes through Barangay Malingin, Sitio Dar, and Sitio Libertad to ensure public safety.
Yesterday, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, in partnership with Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative, began distributing food packages under the Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program.
A total of 704 beneficiaries in Daanbantayan –identified as the poorest among the poor and not enrolled in other social programs– received monthly food allocations worth P3,000 via Electronic Benefit Transfer cards. The packages included rice, bread, fruits, vegetables, spices, eggs, cooking oil, pork, chicken, and fish.
Essential services
Meanwhile, Vivant Corp. through Vivant Foundation has mobilized its subsidiaries and partners to ensure communities continue to have access to essential services while providing urgent relief to affected communities.
Despite being among the areas hardest hit by the quake, Bantayan Island remained powered as Isla Norte Power Corp. (INPC), a Vivant Energy subsidiary, continued its operations during this critical time. Meridian Power Inc. (MPI) also operated without pause, running 24/7 to support the Visayas grid even as the Department of Energy (DOE) issued a yellow alert following the quake-induced loss of 1,444 MW from tripped power plants.
Vivant also extended its efforts to address water challenges. Vivant Water deployed a mobile water treatment system capable of producing up to 150,000 liters of potable water daily, in partnership with Watermatic Phils. and Treasure Island Industrial Corp. The system sources water from rivers or deep wells, filters water from source, and delivers the treated supply to water tanks of Bogo and Medellin for distribution to affected residents.
The initiative comes as several treatment stations and pipelines were damaged by the earthquake, leaving households dependent on unstable water sources and costly refilling stations.
Vivant Water is also sending tankers filled with water from its Isla Mactan Desal Plant to towns and municipalities in the northern part of Cebu.
On top of providing continuous power and safe drinking water, Vivant Foundation with support from Peace and Equity Foundation has mobilized relief operations in coordination with local government units and partner organizations, working alongside members of Task Force Linog –a multi-sectoral initiative that brings together schools, faith-based groups, NGOs, and media to provide coordinated assistance.
Vivant reaffirmed its commitment to building energy and water resilience in the region as part of its mission to deliver essential services and stand with communities in times of crisis.