President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the swift rollout of relief and rehabilitation efforts in Cebu, after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake rocked the province on Tuesday night.
The directive was issued following reports that the strong earthquake claimed at least 20 lives, injured dozens, damaged heritage churches and other structures, and disrupted power in several parts of the Visayas.
In a statement on Wednesday, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman called on government agencies to activate their Quick Response Funds (QRF), in line with Marcos’ directive.
“Our prayers go to the families who lost their loved ones and to all who are enduring this tragedy. In moments like this, government aid must never be delayed,” Pangandaman said.
“Agencies such as the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways), and OCD (Office of Civil Defense) have Quick Response Funds that can be tapped immediately to deliver assistance to those affected,” she added.
The QRF serves as an emergency fund used to finance urgent relief and recovery initiatives, helping communities return to normalcy after disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons.
Agencies may seek replenishment from the DBM once their QRF balance has been reduced to at least 50 percent.
Apart from the DSWD, DPWH, and the OCD, other government agencies with built-in QRFs include the Department of Health, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Education, the Philippine Coast Guard, the National Irrigation Administration, and the Department of Agriculture.
Pangandaman said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRM) Fund is also on standby to support larger-scale needs, including the restoration of damaged facilities and heritage sites, to ensure the immediate recovery of affected communities.
As of Oct. 1, the NDRRM Fund has a balance of PHP8.008 billion, data from the DBM showed.
The fund supports emergency relief and rehabilitation programs for disaster-affected areas, including the repair and reconstruction of public facilities and other capital investments necessary for disaster response.
Pangandaman ordered the DBM and PS regional office in Cebu and nearby areas to immediately check on the safety of their personnel, submit situation reports, and conduct structural inspections of their buildings.
DBM’s regional offices in Central and Eastern Visayas were instructed to coordinate with their regional counterparts at the OCD to identify needs where DBM assistance may be required.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology initially measured the earthquake at magnitude 6.7 before upgrading it to 6.9. The tremor struck at 9:59 p.m., with its epicenter located 21 kilometers northeast of Bogo City, Cebu.
The United States Geological Survey also recorded the quake at magnitude 7.0 before revising it to 6.9. (PNA)
