The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) announced that disaster operations in Cebu are now moving into the early recovery phase following the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that devastated parts of the province earlier this week.
In an interview on DZRH’s Maynila Ito Ang Pilipinas, OCD Deputy Administrator Asec. Raffy Alejandro said that immediate operations such as search, rescue, and retrieval have already been completed, clearing the way for the next stage of response.
“Papasok na tayo sa tinatawag nating early recovery kasi tapos na ‘yong immediate response phase, ibig sabihin search and rescue, search and retrieval ay natapos na,” he explained.
Central to this transition is the establishment of temporary shelters for thousands of displaced families. Alejandro said work has already begun in Bogo City, one of the hardest-hit areas.
“Kahapon nag-umpisa na sila Sec. Vince ng DPWH kasama ang Red Cross at iba pang mga ahensiya, ang OCD ay inumpisahan na ‘yong pagtatayo ng ‘tent city,’” he noted.
For those whose homes were only partially damaged, temporary tents are being distributed so they can remain close to their properties while aftershocks continue to rattle the area.
According to OCD data, the quake damaged around 16,000 houses in northern Cebu, of which 3,500 were totally destroyed.
Tent city sites are being designed to accommodate 400 to 500 families each, with more than 4,000 tents expected to arrive from OCD, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Philippine Red Cross.
“Mabilis lang po ‘yan kasi papunta na ‘yong mga tent, inaayos lang ‘yong kailangang mga support services doon like pagtayo ng tent set, source ng water,” Alejandro said, adding that some sites have already been identified in Cogon, Bogo City.
Utilities are gradually being restored. Alejandro reported that 100 percent of the island’s main power source has been reenergized, though some households remain disconnected.
He pointed out, however, that water systems remain the top priority because quake damage has disrupted supply sources. Communication services, meanwhile, are mostly operational except in areas with intermittent signals.
Beyond shelter, Alejandro said residents still urgently need basic supplies. “Unang-una mga pagkain, tubig, mga blankets kasi kailangan ‘yon kapag gabi… and of course mga medical supplies na dapat tuloy-tuloy lang,” he said, adding that tent cities currently rely on generators for electricity while waiting for permanent solutions.
The Department of Public Works and Highways is also fast-tracking assessments of schools and hospitals across Cebu to determine whether face-to-face classes can safely resume.
Six bridges, several roads, and seaports are also under inspection, with a total of 379 damaged infrastructure facilities recorded so far. The OCD has yet to release official cost estimates as damage reports from local governments are still being consolidated.
Alejandro also urged the public to draw lessons from the Cebu quake by prioritizing earthquake preparedness.
“Unang-una no ‘yong pagsasanay palagi kapag may earthquake na mangyari, ‘yong duck, cover, and hold i-practice natin ‘yan… Pangatlo we have to invest in our infrastructure, tignan natin ‘yong mga bahay natin, mga building, dapat it can ‘yong sustain mga malalakas na earthquake,” he said.
While operations in Cebu remain a priority, OCD continues to manage response efforts in other parts of the country affected by recent typhoons.
Alejandro warned that seven to eight more storms are expected to enter the Philippines in the last quarter of the year as cited by the PAG-ASA.
“‘Tuloy-tuloy lang dahil may mga 7 to 8 typhoons na dadaan pa sa atin… Tuloy-tuloy lang ang ating paghahanda,’” he said.
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