PCSO to launch aid caravan for 'Opong,' Cebu quake survivors
Caravan to be deployed on October 5 to deliver relief to typhoon and earthquake victims
The PCSO Aid Caravan, carrying patient transport vehicles and essential relief items, will reinforce ongoing disaster response efforts for thousands of displaced families in Cebu and Masbate. (Photo from PCSO)
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) announced on Friday, October 3, that it will deploy an Aid Caravan to deliver additional relief goods and transport vehicles to communities devastated by Typhoon “Opong” in Masbate and the 6.9-magnitude earthquake in Cebu.
PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles said the agency has already distributed millions of pesos worth of evacuation kits and relief items to affected families through daily C-130 flights and shipments via the Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Gabriela Silang.
The upcoming land convoy aims to reinforce these efforts and ensure sustained support for disaster-stricken areas.
Relief caravan details
The caravan, set to leave Manila on Sunday, October 5, will bring:
- 11 Patient Transport Vehicles (PTVs) for Cebu
- 5 dump trucks from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) carrying relief items
- 5 wing vans and 1 bus loaded with essential supplies for displaced families
“This caravan will help ensure that food, water, and medical supplies continue to reach those who need them most,” Robles said.
Masbate and Cebu crisis
Masbate remains under a state of calamity after Typhoon “Opong” displaced thousands of families, destroyed homes, and damaged farmlands.
In Cebu, over 20,000 residents have been forced to leave their homes after the powerful earthquake struck northern towns, including Bogo City, Medellin, and San Remigio. Many survivors are still staying in evacuation centers or sleeping outdoors due to persistent aftershocks.
Commitment to help
“We cannot turn away from the suffering of our fellow Filipinos in Masbate and Cebu,” Robles emphasized.
The PCSO assured that its relief operations will continue in coordination with local government units and other agencies until affected families can recover.
“Our duty is clear: to respond and continue helping until aid reaches every corner of these communities,” Robles said. “Through these efforts, we uphold our principle of Hindi Umuurong sa Pagtulong,” he added.
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