Two women walk past a damaged house after a strong earthquake in Davao City on Oct. 10, 2025. (AP)
The European Union has released €450,000 (approximately P30.69 million) in humanitarian aid for the victims of the twin earthquakes that rocked Davao province earlier this month.
In a statement, the EU said that the funding will be coursed through the ACCESS consortium led by NGO CARE and the Philippine Red Cross.
“This funding will bring emergency assistance to the most affected population, such as people staying in temporary shelters,” the statement read.
Of the P30.69 million, P20.46 million will be granted to the ACCESS consortium to prioritize providing shelter and access to water and sanitation.
“This funding released today will complement the initial relief efforts implemented by the ACCESS consortium as part of the ongoing EU-funded Rapid Response mechanism, that was immediately activated after the earthquakes,” the EU added.
The remaining P10.23 million, meanwhile, will support the Philippine Red Cross in delivering tents and household items—sleeping kits and kitchen sets—as well as cash assistance, hot meals, and clean water.
Healthcare and safe spaces for children will also be funded by this provision.
The funding was part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
This latest aid was in addition to the €8.05 million (P549 million) allocated this year for humanitarian aid and disaster preparedness in the country.
This included €1.3 million (P88.659 million) for tropical cyclones that affected the country in July and late September and €750,0000 (P51.149 million) for the Cebu earthquake.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the death toll in magnitude 7.4 and 6.8 double earthquakes in Manay, Davao Oriental on Oct. 10 has a death toll of 10, while 176 were injured.
A total of 1,511,854 people or 362,789 families were affected by the earthquake in Davao Region and Caraga.
Of those affected, 2,260 people or 679 families were staying in evacuation centers, while 192 people or 52 families were taking shelter in other places.