Help pours in for Cebu quake victims

Local

FROM students and doctors to private citizens and celebrities, more and more Cebuanos are stepping forward to help earthquake survivors in northern Cebu.

A growing wave of volunteerism has transformed the Cebu Provincial Capitol into a hub of compassion and community action.

Driven by the spirit of bayanihan, hundreds have flocked to the Capitol grounds since Monday to join relief operations for families affected by the Magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck northern Cebu on Tuesday night, Sept. 30.

Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro said the overwhelming public response has strengthened the province’s capacity to deliver urgent aid and relief to quake-hit areas.

“The spirit of bayanihan is Cebu’s greatest strength. Every helping hand brings hope to families rebuilding their lives,” Baricuatro said.

Through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) and the Cebu People’s Action Center (CPAC), volunteers have been working around the clock to pack thousands of relief goods, including food, water, clothing, and hygiene kits, bound for the hardest-hit towns such as Bogo City and San Remigio.

The provincial government aims to release at least 10,000 relief packs daily to reach displaced families in evacuation centers.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Teresa Magbanua is en route to Cebu carrying 10 medical teams composed of doctors, nurses, and rescue personnel, along with vital supplies such as stretchers and oxygen tanks. The ship also brings nine K-9 search and rescue teams to aid in ongoing operations.

This deployment is in coordination with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), led by Col. Dennis Pastor, and partner organizations, including the Red Cross Cebu and the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).

The surge of volunteers includes over 100 nursing students from various schools across Cebu and hundreds of students from Southwestern University (SWU), who now assist in relief packing and medical response.

Medical professionals, coordinated by PISO Health Consultant Nikki Catalan, have also begun deployment at the Cebu Provincial Hospital in Bogo City, where expanded medical operations are underway to treat injured residents.

To support field operations, three volunteer buses have been mobilized to transport medical personnel to northern towns, while Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival has deployed three ambulances with emergency crews to help transfer patients from Bogo to Cebu City’s Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

“In times of crisis, Cebuanos must stand as one family. This is the true essence of bayanihan,” Archival said.

The outpouring of support also extends beyond government agencies.

The Ramon Nito Durano Family Foundation, led by Executive Director Mix Durano, launched its own relief drive in response to the governor’s call.

The University of the Visayas Green Lancers basketball team likewise donated supplies for quake survivors, while actress Zsa Zsa Padilla contributed drinking water for affected communities.

Baricuatro expressed gratitude for these acts of generosity, saying they “reflect the compassion and unity that define Cebuano resilience.”

The provincial government continues to welcome donations and volunteer sign-ups at the Heritage Park Command Center in the Capitol Compound. Accepted contributions include relief goods such as food, water, and hygiene items.(TGP)