On Cebu roads, pleas for food, water
CEBU—Survivors of the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that hit northern Cebu on Sept. 30 face a new battle as they pick the remnants from the rubble—hunger, thirst, and the struggle for shelter.
In San Remigio, families, including young children, endured the scorching sun as they lined the stretch of Cebu North Hagnaya Wharf Road, which connects Bogo City and San Remigio, two of the hardest hit areas.
Written in bold black letters on placards that they held for passing motorists was a simple but desperate message: “We need food and water.”
Among those waiting was Jijilen Cabansag, a resident of Barangay Argawanon in San Remigio.
“[We’re waiting for] relief food and water. We haven’t had a clean water supply since the earthquake Tuesday night. It was sudden and no one was able to prepare and stock food and water,” Cabansag told the Inquirer.
Desperate calls
Hundreds of families who lost their homes had to sleep in open fields, some even inside plastic bags, to protect themselves from the rain.
Local officials have appealed for urgent provisions, particularly drinking water, ready-to-eat food, tents, blankets, mats, toiletries and hygiene kits.
Communication has also been severed, with mobile signals down across large areas, while the absence of gasoline stations and even functioning ATMs have paralyzed both daily living and relief operations.
In Tabuelan, local resident Jess Colongan painted a dire picture of life after the quake. He said many families slept outdoors or in makeshift tents, fearing strong aftershocks; they also did not have potable water, electricity, and medical assistance, leaving the sick and injured at risk.
In Medellin town, Ludia Booc and her family have yet to receive any food or emergency relief packs since the devastating earthquake struck on Tuesday.
By Thursday, desperation had driven them to scrawl “We Need Help” in chalk on the pavement. Her children and grandchildren joined in, holding up pieces of cardboard with handwritten signs that read: “Hinabang tawon, maluoy mo” (“We are in dire need of help, please”).
“So far, we only received bottles of drinking water. There’s no food, no electricity, and no running water,” Booc told the Inquirer in Cebuano.
Several barangays remained in darkness.
Electricity needs
In Poblacion, a space was set up where residents could charge phones and flashlights, but even the barangay’s generator faltered during the Inquirer’s visit.
In nearby Barangay Tambongon, residents turned to a local grocery that offered its generator for free charging.
“What people need are the basics: food and water. Supplies are scarce, and there’s still no power. We can charge phones here, but even the generator can run out of fuel,” said Minerva Olasiman, a resident of Tambongon.
Aid pours in
On Thursday, President Marcos and some members of his Cabinet flew to the devastated areas to assess the situation.
The President instructed the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release P375 million of Local Government Support Fund to help the province in its rehabilitation works.
Marcos said P150 million for the Cebu provincial government alone, and then another P75 million each for the municipalities of San Remigio, Medellin, and Bogo City.
The funds are part of an “initial release” while a full assessment was ongoing to determine additional financial support needed to help the province recover.
According to Mr. Marcos, P50 million of the Office of the President’s “donation” would go to the Cebu provincial government, while another P20 million would be provided for Bogo.
The OP would also provide assistance to nine municipalities: San Remigio and Sogod, which would receive P20 million each; and the municipalities of Bantayan, Daanbantayan, Madridejos, Medellin, Santa Fe, Tabogon, and Tabuelan, would get P10 million each.
Mr. Marco said the OP would also donate P20 million for each of the Department of Health-retained hospitals in the province, and P5 million for each provincial hospital.
‘Coordinate donations’
Among the areas the President visited were Barangay Polambato, Bogo City, where nine residents died inside the SM Cares Village, a relocation site for victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda,” and the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish. He later proceeded to the Cebu Provincial Hospital, where he spoke with survivors and assured them of government support.
Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro on Thursday called on donors and volunteers to coordinate only with official channels.
“By coordinating directly with the Incident Command Centers (ICCs), we can avoid confusion and overlapping efforts during distribution and ensure that the real and urgent needs of affected families are properly addressed,” Baricuatro said.
She announced that ICCs have been established in San Remigio, Medellin, Daanbantayan, Tabogon, Tabuelan, Tuburan, and Borbon.
These centers serve as official relief and coordination points, ensuring donations are received, accounted for, and distributed equitably among affected barangays.
Cash donations
Cebu City also opened an official account for cash contributions:
Account Name: City of Cebu Trust Fund Proper
Bank: Land Bank of the Philippines
Account Number: 1452-1021-17
For online transfers, donors are requested to send their full name and donation amount to Baby Portia Comendador Basmayor or email comendadorportia91@gmail.com.
Donors are also encouraged to complete an online form for documentation: https://tinyurl.com/yrauf7vy
In-kind donations
Donations, such as nonperishable food, medical supplies, and hygiene items can be delivered to:
• Cebu City Hall Legislative Building (front)
• Cebu City Public Library
For coordination, contact Portia Basmayor at 0932-3680128.
Appeal for blood donations
The Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Cebu City has issued an urgent appeal for blood donors, with over 45 earthquake victims currently admitted—many in critical condition.
Donor Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Contact: 0949-886-5946
Location: VSMMC Subnational Laboratory
Volunteers
Close to 3,000 medical and nonmedical volunteers have already registered at the Cebu Provincial Capitol to assist in relief and recovery efforts.
Relief operations were being scaled up, but access to mountain barangays and hard-to-reach communities remains a major challenge. —REPORTS FROM NEIL ARWIN MERCADO, PIA PIQUERO, DEXTER CABALZA, LEO UDTOHAN, MICHAEL B, JAUCIAN, MOREXETTE ERRAM, JOEY A. GABIETA AND YOLANDA SOTELO
