Cebu provincial government allocated P750 million in rehab work after 2025 earthquake

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The Cebu Provincial government allocated P750 million for rehabilitation efforts of local government units affected by the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck the province last year.

The provincial government said rehabilitation efforts focused on repair of damaged infrastructures such as shelters for students and bridges, beef up disaster response, and formulating a plan for the construction of dams to ensure a steady water supply for the people.

"Exactly one year after the magnitude 6.9 earthquake devastated northern Cebu, the provincial government is strengthening its capacity to respond to future disasters," according to a statement.

"The earthquake left Cebu with at least P19 billion in recovery needs across 10 municipalities and one city, according to the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO)," it added.

The national government is expected to shoulder major rehabilitation costs, but the Cebu Provincial Government provided P750 million for rehabilitation efforts of affected local government units.

“When we took over, there were only three people sa PDRRMO. Now they have their own command center in Apas, we already purchased lots of equipment for rescue. Department na sad ang PDRRMO,” Cebu Gov. Pam Baricuatro said in a press conference.

The provincial government is spending P265 million to assist the Department of Education in constructing temporary learning shelters for students and 40% of the facilities have already been constructed.

Meanwhile, about P238 million was earmarked for the repair of 13 earthquake-damaged bridges.

Part of long-term rehabilitation projects, Baricuatro is also pushing for national government funding for the construction of dams that could help secure Cebu’s water supply and mitigate flooding.

She said the proposed dams have already been endorsed by the RDC and that the President has committed to including them in the national budget.

Baricuatro said there is a need for stronger disaster preparedness and faster response as she called on local government units to "make disaster preparedness a continuing priority rather than an effort that begins only after calamity strikes." — BAP, GMA News