ILOILO CITY — When the ground shook in Cebu, help swiftly came from across the Guimaras Strait. Iloilo Province has released PHP5 million in financial aid to assist quake-hit communities in northern Cebu following the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that rocked Bogo City on 30 September.

Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. confirmed on Wednesday, 8 October, that he signed the allocation a day earlier — a move he described as part of Iloilo’s enduring commitment to stand by fellow provinces in times of calamity.

“This comes from our donations, and it will be PHP5 million in financial assistance for the Province of Cebu,” Defensor said.

Though Iloilo also felt the tremors — prompting class and work suspensions — no major damage was reported. Still, Defensor said the province’s gesture stems from empathy, not proximity.

The aid draws from the PHP20-million intelligence fund that the provincial government realigned in its 2025 budget to strengthen its disaster response and donation programs. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved the move last 17 December 2024, ensuring transparency and accountability in fund use while preserving support for peace and order initiatives.

Operating on a PHP5.977-billion budget this year, Iloilo continues to balance fiscal prudence with humanitarian action — a signature approach under Defensor’s governance philosophy.

The assistance to Cebu comes just days before another powerful quake hit Davao Oriental on 10 October, a stark reminder, Defensor said, that “disaster resilience is built not by isolation, but by solidarity.”

The death toll due to the 30 September magnitude 6.9 earthquake that hit Bogo City, Cebu was recorded at 74, based on National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reports — all from Region 7 (Central Visayas) and still subject to verification.