President Marcos has expressed condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Cebu Tuesday night, and assured that government agencies have been fully mobilized to respond to the disaster.

“Buong puso akong nakikiramay sa mga pamilyang nawalan ng mahal sa buhay, at kasama sa aking mga dasal ang kaligtasan ng mga nasugatan at lahat ng naapektuhan ng lindol (I wholeheartedly sympathize with the families who lost loved ones, and my prayers are with the safety of the injured and all those affected by the earthquake),” Marcos said Wednesday, Oct. 1.

The tremor struck late Tuesday, Sept. 30. Strong shaking was felt across northern Cebu and nearby provinces, followed by a series of aftershocks.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) recorded the death toll at 26 as of 7 a.m. on Wednesday. But Cebu’s Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said the death toll in the province has risen to 61.

In an interview in Masbate, the President told reporters that they are still assessing the damage caused by the earthquake.

"We're assessing the damage— we're assessing the needs," he said.

The President said Cabinet officials are already in affected areas to deliver aid and assess the damage.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is inspecting roads and bridges for safety, while the Department of Energy (DOE) is working to restore the power supply.

The Department of Health (DOH) has deployed additional personnel to hospitals, while the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is distributing food packs and other assistance.

According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla reported to the President that the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) are leading search-and-rescue operations, while also securing order in quake-hit areas.

The PNP has also been tasked to prevent looting and maintain peace as communities recover.

DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa confirmed that teams from Cebu South Medical Center and Eversley Childs Sanitarium and General Hospital have been dispatched to tend to the injured.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr), through the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), has also mobilized BRP Teresa Magbanua, carrying doctors, nurses, medics, and emergency supplies.

Eight K9 search-and-rescue teams will be deployed to reinforce operations in collapsed structures, while water desalination systems are being readied for northern Cebu, where pipelines have been damaged.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian reported that 300,000 family food packs have been prepositioned across Cebu and are ready for distribution to affected families. The packs, containing rice and basic goods, are designed to feed a family of five for two to three days.

Despite these, President Marcos urged communities to remain vigilant and to heed advisories from their local governments as relief and rehabilitation efforts scale up.

“Hinihikayat ko ang lahat na manatiling alerto at makinig sa abiso ng inyong lokal na pamahalaan (I urge everyone to remain alert and listen to advisories from your local governments),” he said.

“Sama-sama nating itatawid ang ating mga kababayan at muling itatayo ang mga komunidad na naapektuhan (Together we will help our countrymen and rebuild affected communities),” he added.