President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the release of P278 million from the Socio-Civic Projects Fund (SCPF) to support recovery efforts in provinces affected by last week’s magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Mindanao.
The assistance, announced during his visit to Sarangani, is intended to help local governments respond to immediate needs, including displacement, infrastructure damage, and the rehabilitation of public facilities such as schools and hospitals.
Under the allocation, Sarangani and General Santos City will each receive P50 million, while South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat will get P30 million each. Davao Occidental and the municipality of Glan will receive P20 million each, and Zamboanga City will be allocated P15 million. Twelve other local government units will receive between P3 million and P10 million.
The President said the funds will help restore basic services and speed up rehabilitation efforts, noting that damaged facilities remain the primary concern in affected areas.
Additional support has been extended through the Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) Local Government Support Fund, alongside ongoing distribution of food packs, medicines, and medical teams.
During his visit to Glan, Marcos oversaw relief operations, including the distribution of food packs, hot meals, and communication equipment, as well as cash assistance to affected residents under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s crisis program.
The government has also deployed patient transport vehicles to several provinces, including Cotabato, Davao regions, and Sarangani, to strengthen emergency response and medical transport capacity.
Health teams continue to provide medical aid and supplies, while structural inspections are ongoing in damaged hospitals to ensure safety for patients and staff. Power has also been restored in affected health facilities, according to authorities.
Government data show more than 664,000 individuals have been affected by the quake, with thousands currently staying in evacuation centers or with relatives.
The administration said recovery efforts will continue across infrastructure, health, and housing sectors as rehabilitation work intensifies in quake-hit communities.