NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Cebu Earthquake Response Ramps Up: Calamity Declared, Rescuers Mobilized As Displacement Figures Soar
Photo credit: Philippine Army
BOGO CITY, CEBU — Fifty-three cities and municipalities in Region 7 have now been placed under a State of Calamity as the government significantly increases its response to the Magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Bogo City, Cebu. The official casualty count currently reports 68 fatalities and 559 injuries, figures that are all still undergoing final validation amidst the ongoing crisis.
The sheer scale of displacement remains a major challenge. A staggering 366,360 individuals from 80,595 families are affected across 106 barangays. While 1,795 persons are sheltered inside eight official evacuation centers, a massive 75,227 individuals have sought refuge outside these centers, often staying with relatives or in open spaces due to fear of continued aftershocks.
Government and uniformed services have deployed a significant force to the area. For search, rescue, and retrieval operations, a combined force of 581 personnel and 40 assets from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) are actively working. The BFP maintains a reserve of 709 personnel and assets for augmentation, while 99 personnel and 53 assets are on the ground for debris clearing and civil works across multiple regions. To maintain law and order amid the devastation, 464 personnel and 38 assets have been deployed.
Disruption to vital infrastructure remains widespread. Power is interrupted in 52 cities/municipalities, and all 12 affected areas in Region 7 are still without communication lines. In the education sector, a total of 1,903 classrooms have been damaged across the affected regions, contributing to the work suspension declared in 27 cities/municipalities, including 12 in Region 7. Transport is also affected, with all three seaports in Region 7 non-operational and 214 passengers currently stranded. The quake also caused severe housing damage, with 5,013 houses reported damaged in Region 7, 658 of them totally destroyed.
In terms of relief, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has provided P9,688,952.00 worth of humanitarian aid to 6,800 families. The total estimated financial assistance provided to affected families stands at P12,626,557.65. Health response is also prioritized, with P125,402,614.93 worth of health commodities readily available, and an additional P1,681,398.18 in augmented health, sanitation, and nutrition services directed to Region VII. Furthermore, 663 pieces of emergency telecommunication equipment, including VSAT and Satellite Phones, are on standby for deployment to restore critical communication links.
Authorities continue to urge the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with responders as the massive effort to aid the affected communities and rebuild damaged lifelines progresses.
The sheer scale of displacement remains a major challenge. A staggering 366,360 individuals from 80,595 families are affected across 106 barangays. While 1,795 persons are sheltered inside eight official evacuation centers, a massive 75,227 individuals have sought refuge outside these centers, often staying with relatives or in open spaces due to fear of continued aftershocks.
Government and uniformed services have deployed a significant force to the area. For search, rescue, and retrieval operations, a combined force of 581 personnel and 40 assets from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) are actively working. The BFP maintains a reserve of 709 personnel and assets for augmentation, while 99 personnel and 53 assets are on the ground for debris clearing and civil works across multiple regions. To maintain law and order amid the devastation, 464 personnel and 38 assets have been deployed.
Disruption to vital infrastructure remains widespread. Power is interrupted in 52 cities/municipalities, and all 12 affected areas in Region 7 are still without communication lines. In the education sector, a total of 1,903 classrooms have been damaged across the affected regions, contributing to the work suspension declared in 27 cities/municipalities, including 12 in Region 7. Transport is also affected, with all three seaports in Region 7 non-operational and 214 passengers currently stranded. The quake also caused severe housing damage, with 5,013 houses reported damaged in Region 7, 658 of them totally destroyed.
In terms of relief, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has provided P9,688,952.00 worth of humanitarian aid to 6,800 families. The total estimated financial assistance provided to affected families stands at P12,626,557.65. Health response is also prioritized, with P125,402,614.93 worth of health commodities readily available, and an additional P1,681,398.18 in augmented health, sanitation, and nutrition services directed to Region VII. Furthermore, 663 pieces of emergency telecommunication equipment, including VSAT and Satellite Phones, are on standby for deployment to restore critical communication links.
Authorities continue to urge the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with responders as the massive effort to aid the affected communities and rebuild damaged lifelines progresses.
Oct 3, 2025
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