Aid pour in to quake-hit northern Cebu
Published Oct 3, 2025 08:03 pm
TRAFFIC is heavy in Barangay Damolog, Sogod town, Cebu province as vehicles carrying relief goods travel to northern Cebu to bring donations. (Calvin Cordova)
CEBU CITY – A long line of vehicles filled a long stretch of a highway leading to northern Cebu province on Friday, Oct. 3.
The bumper-to-bumper traffic was caused by vehicles carrying relief goods, highlighting the outpouring of help for residents affected by the magnitude-6.9 quake that struck northern Cebu on Tuesday night, Sept. 30.
Gov. Pamela Baricuatro thanked those who donated basic needs badly needed by thousands of residents.
“We are so overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and the generosity of those who donated and volunteered. From the bottom of our heart, thank you,” Baricuatro said.
While relief efforts are welcome, Baricuatro appealed for a unified effort to prevent heavy traffic leading to areas affected by the quake.
“Roads are congested already. That’s why we appeal to private individuals, organizations to centralize the donation,” said Baricuatro.
Baricuatro said the heavy traffic is also hampering the government’s relief operations.
The provincial government has set up a command center at the Capitol grounds in Cebu City where donations are being accepted and repacking of relief goods are being done.
The governor said travelling to quake-hit areas is not advisable as of the moment.
“There are still aftershocks. So it is not advisable to go there to give their own donations,” she said.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has recorded 3,952 aftershocks as of 8 a.m. Friday.
Baricuatro said she was aware that some residents complained that they have yet to receive relief aid days after the quake.
The governor said a command center will be set up in northern Cebu to ensure that relief goods will be delivered even to far-flung barangays.
“We are appealing for understanding because the local government units are really affected. It’s just that there are far-flung areas that cannot be reached right away,” Baricuatro said.
As of 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, the Capitol has received cash donation totaling P383,000 and close to P1 million worth of in-kind donations.
A total of 6,478 volunteers have signed for the relief drive.
Baricuatro signed an Executive Order (EO) suspending the enforcement of the truck ban on all provincial and national roads to ensure the uninterrupted movement of vehicles carrying relief goods, food, medical supplies, fuel, and construction materials.
“Logistics is really our main challenge right now. The roads going north are congested, and we don’t want relief trucks delayed,” Baricuatro said.
According to the 5 p.m. Oct. 3 situational report released by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), 70 deaths and 594 injuries have been recorded.
At the joint operation set up in Bogo City, the epicenter of the earthquake, 73 fatalities have been recorded.
Cebu Provincial Public Information Officer Ainjeliz dela Torre-Orong explained that the 70 deaths released by the PDRRMO were based on the count of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
“The 73 deaths are based on body count. The 70 deaths are based on the death certificates,” said Orong.