President Bongbong Marcos traveled to Davao Oriental this week to oversee relief operations and distribute nearly ₱298 million in government assistance to areas devastated by recent earthquakes that shook parts of Mindanao.
The President met with local officials and residents affected by the twin tremors that struck the province on October 10, damaging schools, hospitals, and homes across several municipalities. He inspected the worst-hit areas in Manay and Tarragona and visited temporary evacuation sites housing displaced families.
Government data showed that a large portion of the ₱298 million package will go to the Davao Oriental provincial government and its municipalities for immediate recovery needs. Additional allocations were also extended to neighboring provinces in the Davao and Caraga regions that felt the impact of the quakes.
Marcos instructed concerned agencies, including the Department of Budget and Management, to expedite the release of funds under the Local Government Support Fund to help localities rebuild essential infrastructure. The Department of Public Works and Highways was also directed to prioritize repairs to damaged roads, bridges, and public facilities using its Quick Response Fund.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development began distributing cash aid and food packs to affected families, while the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development launched the construction of modular shelters for displaced residents under its Integrated Disaster Shelter Assistance Program.
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, the back-to-back earthquakes registered magnitudes 7.4 and 6.8, making them among the strongest to hit Davao Oriental in recent years. The tremors triggered landslides and power interruptions, prompting several municipalities to declare a state of calamity.
President Marcos assured communities that national agencies would continue to provide financial and technical support until all affected areas have fully recovered.
