The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Undersecretary Randy Escolangco said on Wednesday that the agency continues its assistance to the affected areas of the earthquakes.

According to Escolangco, the agency activated the regional shelter clusters in the affected areas, especially in regions XI and XIII.

"What we did at DHSUD under the leadership of our secretary, Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar, is that we immediately activated our regional shelter clusters, especially in Region XI and Region XIII to speed up the immediate assistance or responding to provide emergency response and immediate assistance to our fellow Filipinos affected by the earthquake," Escolangco said in an interview.

Escolangco added that DHSUD also helped with the evacuation in the areas hit by the earthquake.

"Being part of DHSUD, as lead agency under the shelter cluster of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, they helped on the evacuation of those who were hit by the earthquake," he added.

The undersecretary stressed that the agency is still providing necessities to the victims.

"Shelter-grade tarpaulins are still being distributed to earthquake victims,"

DHSUD also provided a rental subsidy and financial assistance program for the victims which aims to distribute P10,000 to totally damaged houses.

Earlier, PHIVOLCS reported that a magnitude 5.2 earthquake was recorded in Hinatuan, Surigao Del Sur at 9:55 a.m.