‘Tent City’ for Cebu quake victims in motion – PBBM

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

The President earlier ordered the immediate establishment of temporary shelters to house families whose homes were destroyed or deemed unsafe due to quake damage. (PCO photo)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said evacuation “tent cities” are now being set up in Cebu to shelter residents displaced by the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck the province on Sept. 30.

“With the help of Dick Gordon and the Red Cross, they’ve been very, very, very helpful,” Marcos said in Episode 5 of his “Bagong Pilipinas Podcast,” released Monday.

The President earlier ordered the immediate establishment of temporary shelters to house families whose homes were destroyed or deemed unsafe due to quake damage.

The national government has allotted PHP375 million for response and relief operations in Cebu, with PHP150 million coursed through the Local Government Support Fund and PHP75 million earmarked for Bogo City, one of the hardest-hit areas.

As of the latest reports, 72 people were confirmed dead, while around 450,000 individuals have been affected, prompting government and humanitarian agencies to provide food packs, potable water, medical services, and shelter assistance.

Marcos stressed the importance of swift and sustained disaster response, saying aid must continue until communities are stabilized.

“In government, the best that we can do is really to be prepared, as prepared as we can possibly be, and move very, very quickly,” he said.

The Chief Executive said his approach is guided by the plight of families and children in calamity areas.

“You cannot wait. Don’t do it later, do it now, do it now, do it now,” Marcos emphasized.

He also cautioned against letting public attention fade once media coverage subsides, stressing that communities continue to suffer long after the headlines move on.

“The challenge with almost all disasters, especially globally, is that the moment they get shunted out of the headlines or the news, what’s happening there, and that there are people still suffering, still trying to recover. That’s why I made it very clear when I went to both Masbate and Cebu. I said this is not a one-time thing. We’re here. We’re going to stay here until everyone is more or less in a stable condition,” Marcos said.