PBBM inspects first Cebu ‘Bayanihan Village’

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the turnover Friday of the first-ever “Bayanihan Village” in San Remigio, Cebu, a temporary settlement designed to aid victims of the 30 September magnitude 6.9 earthquake. The village is part of the government’s whole-of-nation approach to accelerate recovery from the tragedy.

The new settlement, located in Barangay Poblacion, is composed of 45 modular shelter units (MSUs) deployed by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling accompanied the president, who also inspected the situation of displaced Cebuanos to ensure prompt government assistance.

Aliling credited the swift completion of the village, established in just one week, to the convergence of multiple government agencies, including the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Office of Civil Defense.

The private sector support also augmented the effort.

“President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s aspiration is to lighten the burden of our countrymen, which is why we built the Bayanihan Village quickly and properly,” Aliling said, adding that some families have already moved into the MSUs, which he described as comfortable and safe.

The local government unit will be responsible for identifying beneficiaries and the upkeep of the village, which is equipped with electricity and common comfort rooms and lavatories per cluster.

Meanwhile, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian made his third trip to Northern Cebu Friday to visit the newly established village, where a “tent city” is also sheltering approximately 250 displaced families.

The DSWD chief inspected specialized mobile facilities in the area, including the DSWD’s mobile kitchen and a mobile shower and toilet unit provided by the local government, aimed at providing comfort and convenience to evacuees.

The DSWD is serving as the lead camp manager for the “Bayanihan Village,” coordinating the relief efforts between government and the private sector.

In other developments, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported Friday that the magnitude 6.9 earthquake affected 216,962 families, or 748,025 people, across 260 barangays in Central Visayas. The latest fatality count has climbed to 76.

Damage assessments show that 126,932 houses were damaged, with 7,295 completely destroyed.

Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro disclosed that the province has received P132 million in monetary donations. She stated the province ensures transparent aid delivery to all 15 affected local government units, with Bogo City, Medellin and Daanbantayan receiving the largest assistance based on damage and population impact.

The province has distributed a total of 1,435,388 resources, including 810,883 liters of drinking water, 96,974 rice packs, 103,623 relief packs, and 253,051 units of medicines and medical supplies.