President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has pledged to provide assistance to families affected by the series of earthquakes in Davao Oriental. Up to 166,000 families have been affected, nearly 500 houses have been damaged, and three people have died. Accompanied by several cabinet members, the President visited the province and assured them that they will not be abandoned.
According to Marcos, aside from the assistance from the DSWD, the Office of the President will also provide funds. It released ₱158.3 million for the earthquake-hit areas: ₱50M for Davao Oriental, ₱10M for Mati City, and ₱15M each for the towns of Manay, Banaybanay, and Lupon. The towns of Tarragona, Baganga, Boston, and Cateel received ₱10M each, while Caraga and San Isidro received ₱5M each, and ₱3M for Governor Generoso.
The DSWD also distributed ₱10,000 each to several families who were directly affected and provided hot meals under the Mobile Kitchen Program. The Department of Human Settlements also plans to provide ₱20M cash aid, 150 modular houses, and ₱5M worth of materials for the construction of houses. In addition, families who have completely lost their homes will receive ₱150,000 each.
The President visited damaged facilities such as the Manay District Hospital and Manay National High School. He also noticed that the tents used as temporary shelters were too hot, so he assured that they would be replaced with more durable and comfortable modular shelters. The President also emphasized that the buildings to be constructed should be durable and safe, especially in areas near the fault line and frequently hit by typhoons.
The President called on local officials not to be shy about presenting their needs. He assured that government assistance will continue until residents' lives return to normal. There is still a ₱12 billion contingency fund and it can be increased from other funds if necessary.
