Bacolod to donate PHP 3,000,000 to quake-hit Cebu

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — The city government will extend financial assistance of PHP 3,000,000 to Cebu province following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake on Sept. 30.

Mayor Greg Gasataya earlier announced a PHP 2,000,000 donation to Bogo City to be sourced from the city’s donations.

However, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council approved PHP 3,000,000 to aid local government units severely affected by the tremor after a meeting with the mayor on Oct. 9.

“This is a gesture of solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Cebu who lost loved ones and homes in the recent earthquake,” Gasataya said in a Facebook post.

Gasataya said he has discussed the assistance with department heads and the city will prepare the necessary paperwork, adding, “We will turn it over as soon as we finish finalizing the process.”

Aside from the financial aid, the city government has launched a donation drive for quake-hit communities in northern Cebu.

“When others are in pain, we don’t look away,” the mayor said. “We reach out, because in times like these, we can only stand stronger when we are together,” he added, noting the Cebu tremor was felt in Bacolod at Intensity V.

This followed the announcement of the Negros Occidental provincial government that it will also extend PHP 2,000,000 in cash aid to Bogo City.

Meanwhile, Negros Oriental Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria issued an executive order on Oct. 10 directing weekend structural inspections following the magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Davao Oriental that day, which was also felt in parts of Negros Island.

The suspension provided time for officials to conduct comprehensive structural assessments on Oct. 11 and 12.

School administrators were told to coordinate with qualified structural engineers, conduct thorough inspections of all buildings and facilities, assess structural integrity including visible damage from the earthquake, verify that utility systems are functioning safely, and submit reports to Division Offices and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office by Sunday evening.

As part of safety protocols, coordination with DRRM offices is required, entry to damaged buildings is prohibited until certified safe by engineers, necessary safety measures must be implemented before resuming operations, and emergency evacuation plans should be updated based on inspection results.

Sagarbarria also ordered the suspension of classes at all levels on Friday as a precautionary measure due to the Mindanao tremor.

He said the provincial government’s primary concern is the safety and security of students, teachers, and school personnel in both public and private institutions and to allow sufficient time for thorough structural assessments of school buildings and facilities before resuming normal operations.