Quake, typhoon drain Cebu’s disaster funds

Local

THE 6.9-magnitude earthquake in September and Typhoon Tino in November have left Cebu Province struggling to cope financially with its disaster funds are now almost exhausted.

Assistant Provincial Administrator Aldwin Empaces said only P170 million remains from the province’s P1-billion Calamity and Disaster Fund for 2025.

He explained that the remaining funds are expected to sustain disaster response operations only until the end of the year.

“Nag ampo nalang jud nga wala nay laing bagyo this December kay kung naa pa murag…kay di na kaya,” Empaces said, expressing concern over possible additional disasters.

Empaces added that if the calamity fund is fully consumed, the provincial government will have to use its regular budget for disaster-related expenses.

To manage ongoing assistance, Cebu is implementing a “three-fold pacing” strategy to handle rehabilitation, relief, and recovery programs at the same time.

These programs focus on helping families displaced by the earthquake and communities heavily affected by Typhoon Tino.

All donations for Typhoon Tino relief have already been spent.

Out of P57 million in aid, which came from the Office of the President and private donors, every peso went directly to relief operations.

The province spent around P110 million on Typhoon Tino relief alone due to the large scope of affected areas.

"Ang nagasto nato is around P110 million kay dagko kaayog scope sa relief operations. Hygiene Kits, Sleeping Kits and food packs, bugas, hot meals,” Empaces said.

Several local government units have also used up their Quick Response Funds after successive disasters, limiting their capacity to respond independently.

Cebu’s calamity fund consists of the national Calamity Fund and a portion of the province’s National Tax Allotment for disaster preparedness.

Thirty percent of the fund is set aside as a Quick Response Fund, while the rest goes to preparedness, relief, recovery, and rehabilitation efforts.

When Gov. Pamela Baricuatro assumed office, over P1 billion in unused disaster preparedness funds had quietly accumulated in the provincial government.

Provincial Budget Officer Danilo Roda confirmed that P628 million of these funds were transferred to the trust fund, and an additional P360 million from the Provincial General Fund was allocated for disaster risk reduction.

This total amount has been tapped extensively this year and is now almost fully used.

The province expects a fresh calamity allocation of around P300 million in 2026.

Baricuatro is preparing to lobby the national government for a P1-billion rehabilitation package for quake-hit northern Cebu.

She said rebuilding and recovery efforts from both disasters will continue throughout 2026.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned that the country may still experience two to three tropical cyclones in November and one to two more in December.

The agency projects that up to 17 tropical cyclones may form or enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility before January 2026.

Typhoon Tino caused severe damage in Cebu, leaving 108 people dead, 44 missing, and thousands injured.

The September 30 earthquake killed 72 residents, destroyed homes, and disrupted critical infrastructure across northern Cebu.(MyTVCebu)