ILOILO CITY — When a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck Bogo City, Cebu on 30 September, help quickly came from across the Guimaras Strait. Iloilo Province has released P5 million in financial assistance to support the affected northern Cebu communities.

Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. confirmed on 8 October that he signed the allocation the day before, describing it as part of Iloilo’s ongoing commitment to stand with fellow provinces during calamities.

“This aid comes from our donations, amounting to P5 million 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 emphasized that their help is driven by empathy, not just proximity.

The aid is sourced from a P20-million intelligence fund realigned in Iloilo’s 2025 budget to enhance disaster response and donation programs. This realignment was approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on 17 December 2024, with safeguards for transparency and accountability, while still supporting peace and order initiatives.

Operating on a P5.977-billion budget this year, Iloilo continues to balance fiscal prudence with humanitarian action — a hallmark of Defensor’s governance.

The assistance to Cebu came just days before another strong quake hit Davao Oriental on 10 October, underscoring Defensor’s reminder that “disaster resilience is built not by isolation, but by solidarity.”

1,500 quake victims get DoH help

Over 1,500 quake victims in Cebu have received mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) from the Department of Health (DoH).

So far, 1,522 individuals have benefited from counseling, stress debriefing, and other MHPSS services aimed at helping them cope with anxiety and panic attacks.

The DoH also plans to extend psychological first aid to victims of the recent earthquake in Davao Oriental.

The 6.9-magnitude quake that struck Bogo City, Cebu on 30 September has resulted in 74 deaths and 559 injuries, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council as of 11 October.