Malacañang has assured the public that emergency assistance and recovery funds are being rapidly mobilized for communities affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck parts of Mindanao, as government agencies roll out a coordinated response across relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction efforts.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said Tuesday that the government has activated its full disaster response machinery to ensure swift delivery of aid, restoration of services, and long-term recovery support for affected families and local government units.
Recto said the administration’s priority is to save lives, provide immediate relief, restore essential infrastructure, and help communities recover “as quickly and as safely as possible.”
More than P640 million in assistance has already been released through various funding sources, including the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) and the Socio-Civic Projects Fund (SCPF), to support both families and local governments in quake-hit areas.
Based on official data, P362 million from the LGSF has been allocated to major affected areas, including P100 million for General Santos City, P140 million for Sarangani, and P122 million for South Cotabato. An additional P278 million from the SCPF has been distributed across 19 local government units in Mindanao.
Beyond financial assistance, the government has also provided burial aid worth P50,000 for families of fatalities, along with livelihood assistance, food packs, medical supplies, and other essential relief items for approximately 90,000 families.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported that P36.66 million in cash aid under its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program has already been distributed, alongside over 125,000 family food packs, nearly 7,000 non-food items, and more than 7,400 ready-to-eat food boxes.
Health support has also been reinforced, with the Department of Health deploying hygiene kits, vitamins, medicines, and emergency medical teams, including personnel from the Department of Health (DOH)–Cotabato Regional Medical Center.
Other agencies have expanded their response efforts. The Department of Labor and Employment is providing temporary employment through its TUPAD program, while the Government Service Insurance System has earmarked P15.1 billion in emergency loans for affected members and pensioners.
Housing and infrastructure recovery measures are also underway. The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development will provide cash aid for families with totally damaged homes, while housing agencies have imposed moratoriums on loan repayments for affected borrowers. The Department of Public Works and Highways is conducting structural assessments of critical facilities, and the Department of Energy said power restoration efforts are ongoing while assuring stable fuel supply.
Connectivity and emergency communications are likewise being reinforced, with the Department of Information and Communications Technology deploying emergency telecom assets in coordination with disaster response agencies.
Recto welcomed a Senate resolution urging sustained funding for quake-hit communities, saying it supports ongoing recovery efforts.
International support has also been expressed. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, speaking during a state luncheon in Malacañang, extended condolences to affected families and noted the shared global challenge of climate-related disasters, including earthquakes, typhoons, and rising sea levels.
He said Germany stands in solidarity with the Philippines and emphasized the importance of continued cooperation in addressing climate change and disaster resilience.