CEBU CITY – The mayor of Bogo City, Cebu province, the hardest-hit by the Sept. 30 6.9-magnitude earthquake, has expressed frustration over what she described as chaotic distribution of relief aid.

Mayor Mayel Martinez took to social media to air out her complaints against the supposed “chaotic” and “disorganized” relief response.

“We’ve been through three years of Covid and many typhoons in the past. Sa tanan response efforts nato kani ang pinaka labad so far (In all of our response efforts, this is the most chaotic so far),” Martinez said.

Martinez’s rant came as the provincial government scrambles to deal with the massive traffic created by long lines of vehicles travelling to northern Cebu to deliver relief goods.

There were also reports that relief aid has been scarce in some areas.

Bogo was the epicenter of the quake that also affected the towns of Medellin, Tabuelan, San Remigio, Borbon, and Sogod, among others.

Gov. Pamela Baricuatro has appealed to private individuals and organizations to centralize the delivery of relief aid.

If possible, Baricuatro said donations should be coursed through the Capitol or other government agencies.

The governor added that the provincial government is not competing with local government units (LGUs) in the distribution of relief aid.

“We in the provincial government are not here to compete with our local government units (LGUs),” Baricuatro said on Monday, Oct. 6.

“We are here to support you – every town, every city, every barangay – so that we can deliver relief, rebuilding, and recovery as quickly and effectively as possible.”

“If at any point you feel we are overstepping, I apologize in advance. My duty is to serve you – not to score political points,” Baricuatro added.

The quake affected more than 370,000 residents, some are still sleeping in open areas as aftershocks continue.

At least 70 people died, mostly from Bogo.

Private organizations also complained about the call to centralize the delivery of relief aid.

Anthony Leuterio, founder and chief executive officer of Filipino Homes, which is actively spearheading a relief effort for the quake victims, said instead of discouraging entities to personally deliver help, the LGUs should focus on ensuring the smooth flow of traffic.

“To the government, please activate all barangay tanods along the main highways to assist those who want to help. This is the best time for mayors in affected areas to organize proper traffic management for vehicles heading north. We cannot blame people who are rushing to help – what we need is teamwork and understanding. City governments must mobilize their resources to manage the roads effectively. It’s that simple,” Leuterio said.

Baricuatro emphasized that the province is open to criticisms, believing that it would improve coordination and disaster response.

“If you ever see us moving faster or slower, we welcome constructive feedback,” she said. “Please advise us directly rather than airing concerns on social media. Your insights help us serve better.”

As heavy traffic becomes a concern, police have reported at least five accidents involving northbound vehicles carrying relief goods.

Last Sunday afternoon, Oct. 5, 11 persons were injured when a pickup truck loaded with relief goods rammed a Mitsubishi Xpander in Barangay Cansomoroy, Balamban town, Cebu.

The incident, which was captured by a closed-circuit television, happened in a downhill area at the Transcentral Highway.

In the video, the pickup truck driven by Noei Cadilig was running at highspeed when it rear-ended the Xpander driven by Ricky Bostamente.

The impact caused the Xpander to flip upside down. After hitting the Xpander, the pick-up rammed into a concrete wall.

Bostamente said that his vehicle’s brake malfunctioned and caused him to lose control of the wheel.

Meanwhile, a four-month old baby girl was the only survivor of a family of four in the earthquake that destroyed their home in Gibitngil Island, Medellin town, Cebu on Sept. 30.

Dr. Bianca Lopez Salimbangon, daughter-in-law of Medellin Mayor Edwin Salimbangon, narrated the baby's situation in a Facebook post.

"This is baby Briana Grace, a true survivor and a living miracle. Tragically, both her parents and kuya lost their lives when a large rock struck their home, causing it to collapse," Dr. Salimbangon said.

"By God’s grace, beautiful baby Briana was spared and is now in the loving care of her lolo and lola in Gibitngil Island, Medellin.

"Through the generosity of our donors, we have been able to provide cash assistance to her family. For those who would still like to extend their support, donations may be sent to the GCash account of Baby Briana’s aunt, as her grandparents do not have any bank details. Your kindness and compassion will go a long way in helping Briana as she begins this difficult journey."