The President flew to Bogo City, the epicenter of the tremor, on Oct. 2 to inspect the damage, oversee relief efforts and extend assistance.
Funding allocations
Of the P200 million, P50 million would be released to the province of Cebu headed by Gov. Pam Baricuatro who had been overseeing relief operations since day 1.
Aside from Cebu province, P20 million will be allocated to the hardest-hit localities —Bogo City, San Remegio, and Sogod.
Seven towns will receive P10 million each, namely Medellin, Bantayan, Daanbantayan, Madridejos, Santa Fe, Tabogon, and Tabuelan.
To ensure continuity of healthcare services, P5 million will be provided to each local government-run hospital damaged by the quake, while P20 million is earmarked for the Department of Health-owned hospital in the province.
Casualties and damage
Based on data from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), the earthquake claimed at least 73 lives and left 297 others injured. Bogo recorded the highest number of fatalities at 33, followed by San Remegio with 22.
Bogo and eight other towns remained without power –Asturias, Carmen, Catmon, San Remegio, Sogod, Tabuelan, Tuburan and Tabogon, as of noon of Oct. 2.
Communication lines were down in Daanbantayan, San Remegio, Sogod, Tuburan and Tabogon towns.
‘Tent city’ and Red Cross support
Marcos ordered the establishment of a “tent city” in Bogo City to serve as temporary shelter for residents displaced by the earthquake.
He said the tent city will have food and water supply, electricity powered through generator sets and other needs of the residents.
The Chief Executive said the government would tap the Philippine Red Cross to deploy its medical field tents, which were used at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic as staging and isolation wards.
DTI price freeze
In the meantime, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has implemented a 60-day price freeze on basic necessities across the entire province of Cebu.
DTI monitoring teams have been deployed to actively inspect markets, verify prices, and guarantee an adequate and continuous supply of basic goods in all affected communities.
Marcos inspects sites
During his visit in Bogo, Marcos inspected the collapsed housing units at SM Cares Village in Barangay Polambato and talked as well with affected families.
SM Cares Village 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; the City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy in Barangay Cogon, ad the Cebu Provincial Hospital in Barangay Taytayan.
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