The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to complete Monday the distribution of 26,000 food and hygiene kits donated by the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to families affected by the September 30 magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Northern Cebu.

Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, spokesperson of the DSWD and head of its Disaster Response Management Group, said the donations were coursed through the UAE Embassy in Manila, which coordinated with the Department to ensure timely delivery to Bogo City and six other municipalities hardest hit by the quake.

“The DSWD appreciates the generosity of the UAE government for extending timely assistance to our kababayans in Cebu. On our end, our disaster response personnel are tirelessly working on the ground so these donations swiftly reach our affected Cebuanos as they cope with their situation and slowly recover from the devastation caused by the earthquake,” Dumlao said.

Since October 11, the DSWD Field Office 7–Central Visayas has been distributing the UAE-donated kits to Bogo City and the municipalities of San Remigio, Tabogon, Medellin, Daanbantayan, Borbon, and Tuburan.

“After the October 20 distribution, we will be able to complete the delivery of 5,400 kits to San Remigio; 2,000 kits to Tabogon; 4,000 kits to Medellin; 4,000 kits to Daanbantayan; 2,000 kits to Borbon; 4,000 kits to Bogo City; and 4,600 kits to Tuburan,” Dumlao said.

Each kit contains rice, milk, coffee, canned goods, biscuits, sugar, a blanket or towel, and bottled water.

Dumlao said the DSWD continues to ensure that all forms of assistance — whether from government or international partners — reach affected families as quickly as possible, following the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that “no one will be left behind in times of emergencies.”

The regional office in Central Visayas has opened various donation channels for additional aid. Monetary donations may be sent through the DSWD Kaagapay Portal at kaagapay.dswd.gov.ph. In-kind donations may be dropped off at the DSWD-Central Visayas warehouse inside the AVRC II Compound, Camomot-Franza Road, Barangay Labangon, Cebu City, open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Interested individuals and organizations may contact the DSWD 7 Donations Management Cluster at 0916-593-7018, 0905-990-4050, or 0939-518-1351.

“Given the circumstances of our kababayans who have yet to return to their normal lives due to their damaged houses, we highly encourage our donors to prioritize goods that will be of great help to disaster-hit families,” Dumlao said.

Easy-to-cook and ready-to-eat food items, as well as drinking water, remain in high demand among evacuees.

Meanwhile, DSWD Central Visayas Regional Director Shalaine Lucero urged the public to utilize the agency’s donation channels. “Let us extend our support to those in need. Be part of the spirit of cooperation and compassion for our fellow Filipinos affected by the earthquake. Every donation makes a meaningful difference in helping communities recover from this crisis,” Lucero said.