President Marcos has announced that the Office of the President (OP) has donated over P200 million to Cebu and other towns struck by the 6.9 magnitude earthquake last Tuesday night, Sept. 30.

Marcos said on Thursday, Oct. 2, that the OP has donated P180 million to the provincial government of Cebu and to the local governments of Bogo, San Remigio, Sogod, Medellin, Bantayan, Daanbantayan, Madridejos, Santa Fe, Tabogon, and Tabuelan.

Marcos' office also provided P20 million for a Department of Health (DOH)-owned hospital in the province and P5 million each for local government unit-run hospitals affected by the earthquake.

The President has assured local executives that the national government will continue to assist them.

"I assured all of our local executives that this is not, hindi ito minsanan lang. Baka naman isipin ninyo na pag-alis namin dito tapos na lahat. Hindi (this is not one-time. You might think that once we leave here, everything is over. It’s not)," Marcos said after presiding over a situation briefing in Bogo City on Thursday.

"We will continue to monitor. We will continue to coordinate with the leaders -- the local leadership to make sure that maganda ang takbo ng ating rehabilitation and all the support na binibigay natin (the progress of our rehabilitation is good, along with all the support that we are providing)," he added.

Marcos also said that the government is providing P10,000 cash assistance to those displaced by the earthquake.

"We are providing for all of those who have been displaced, lalong-lalo na yung mga nawalan ng bahay, binibigyan natin ng P10,000 na cash assistance at least sa umpisa. Kung kailangan pa nila baka maulit. Titingnan natin kung papaano na ang takbo ng ating recovery (We are providing for all those who have been displaced, especially those who lost their homes. We are giving them ₱10,000 in cash assistance at least to start with. If they still need more, it may be given again. We will see how the progress of our recovery goes)," the President said.

He assured them that they will not run out of food and water for the quake victims, noting that many of them still could not return to their buildings and houses.

The Chief Executive disclosed that they will be establishing a "tent city" in Bogo City to house those who cannot return to their places yet.

He said they will be utilizing the tents from Red Cross that were used during the Covid pandemic.

"[I]to ay mabilis itayo at kahit umulan hindi problema. Kaya yun ang dadalhin namin dito sa ngayon (This can be built quickly, and even if it rains, it won’t be a problem. That is what we will bring here for now)," he said.

"And we will then, doon sa kung saan ilalagay yung gagawa ng tent city, kung tawagin, ay lalagyan din natin ng siyempre lahat nung facilities. Titiyakin natin na may food supply, may water supply, may kuryente kung kailangan mag-genset. Kung anuman ang pangangailangan ng tao ay titiyakin natin na mayroon (in the area where the so-called tent city will be set up, we will also provide all the necessary facilities. We will make sure there is a food supply, a water supply, and electricity if a generator is needed. Whatever the people may require, we will ensure it is available)," he assured.

The President said the LGUs agreed to stay outside, hence the setting up of tent city.

"Mas gusto nila dito sila sa labas. So, yun ang susundan natin. Yun ang kanilang kagustuhan, yun ang ating susundan (They prefer to stay here outside. So that is what we will follow. It is their choice, and we will respect it). So, that’s why ang proposal is the tent city," Marcos said.

He also noted that they cannot house the displaced victims to the evacuation centers because they cannot be certain about the evacuation sites.

Marcos further said that the ongoing recovery program will continue "until we are satisfied" that all affected individuals are attended to.

During his visit at ground zero, the President inspected the collapsed housing units at SM Cares Village in Barangay Polambato, which was established by SM Supermalls in November 2014 for survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

He also visited the Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish Church of St. Vicente Ferrer in Barangay Bungtod, as the church sustained heavy damage during the earthquake, and the City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy in Barangay Cogon, a public school heavily damaged during the earthquake.

The Chief Executive also visited the Cebu Provincial Hospital in Barangay Taytayan, where hospital staff put up makeshift wards at the parking lot to attend to the influx of patients.

After the site inspections, he presided over the situation briefing held at the damaged Bogo City Hall.