Marcos pledges P150-million aid for quake-hit areas

Local

COLLAPSED houses, damaged churches, and crowded hospital tents greeted President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. when he arrived in northern Cebu on Thursday, Oct. 2, two days after a powerful earthquake struck the province.

The President inspected communities devastated by the 6.9-magnitude quake that hit on the night of September 30, displacing more than 65,000 families and leaving widespread destruction in its wake.

Marcos pledged P150 million in immediate financial assistance from the Office of the President to help local governments in their relief, recovery, and rehabilitation programs.

Cebu Province will receive P50 million, while Bogo City, San Remigio, and Sogod will each get P20 million.

Bantayan, Daanbantayan, Madridejos, Santa Fe, Tabogon, Tabuelan, and Medellin will each be given P10 million.

In Bogo, close to the epicenter, Marcos inspected the collapsed housing units at SM Cares Village in Barangay Polambato and spoke with families whose homes were destroyed.

The housing project, built by SM Supermalls in November 2014, originally served as a relocation site for survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

He also visited the Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish Church of St. Vicente Ferrer in Barangay Bungtod, which sustained heavy damage, and the City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy in Barangay Cogon, a public school declared unsafe after the tremor.

At the Cebu Provincial Hospital in Barangay Taytayan, Marcos assured patients of government assistance.

Hospital staff had erected makeshift wards in the parking lot to handle the influx of patients following the earthquake.

The President directed national agencies to strengthen relief and rehabilitation operations.

He was accompanied by Cabinet officials, including Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Education Secretary Sonny Angara, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, and Energy Secretary Sharon Guarin.

After the site visits, Marcos presided over a situation briefing at Bogo City Hall with Cabinet officials and local leaders to coordinate the ongoing response.(MyTVCebu)