CEBU CITY — Less than a year after Mindanao extended help to earthquake-devastated Cebu, the province is now returning the favor with swift and substantial support. The Cebu Provincial Board unanimously approved the release of P10 million in calamity assistance to General Santos City on Monday, June 8, 2026, just hours after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Sarangani. The aid will support relief, recovery, and humanitarian efforts in one of the hardest-hit areas.
Governor Pamela Baricuatro formally requested authority from the board to release the assistance through a letter addressed to Vice Governor Glenn Anthony Soco. The resolution, authored by board member Andrei Duterte, was approved without objection. Baricuatro emphasized that the province of Cebu has consistently upheld the spirit of solidarity and mutual aid among local government units, especially during disasters and crises.
Returning the Favor
Cebu's assistance comes less than a year after the province received support from various LGUs, including those in Mindanao, following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Bogo City on September 30, 2025. That disaster killed 76 people and damaged or destroyed thousands of structures. The memory of that tragedy and the outpouring of help Cebu received made Monday's decision both swift and deeply personal.
"In times like these, we are reminded that Filipinos are strongest when we stand together. Cebu stands ready to help our brothers and sisters in Mindanao," Baricuatro said. Board member Duterte noted that General Santos City was not the only LGU affected by the disaster, but provincial officials deemed it necessary to act immediately while consultations and assessments in other earthquake-hit areas continue. He expressed hope that similar assistance measures for other affected LGUs could be approved in succeeding sessions.
A Coordinated Regional Response
Even before the resolution was passed, Baricuatro had directed the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to coordinate with disaster management authorities in General Santos City and other affected areas. The PDRRMO was instructed to determine what additional support Cebu could provide beyond the P10-million financial assistance. The proactive coordination ensures that aid is not merely symbolic but directly responsive to the actual needs on the ground.
The Mandaue City government is also preparing assistance for earthquake victims in Southern Mindanao. Mayor Thadeo Ouano confirmed that the city intends to provide financial aid to General Santos City, noting that direct financial assistance gives local officials flexibility in addressing urgent needs. Ouano said he initially considered deploying an emergency response team but later decided that financial assistance would be a more practical and efficient form of support.
Solidarity Beyond Borders
Cebu's gesture is part of a broader wave of inter-LGU solidarity following the Mindanao earthquake. The Provincial Government of Bohol has deployed two Search, Rescue, and Retrieval Teams to Mindanao and committed P5 million in financial assistance to General Santos, Sarangani, and South Cotabato. The combined response demonstrates that local governments are increasingly capable of extending direct, rapid support to communities in crisis.
The P10-million aid package will help General Santos City address the immediate needs of affected communities and support ongoing response and recovery operations. The 7:37 a.m. earthquake triggered tsunami warnings, strong aftershocks, and widespread damage across parts of Mindanao. For General Santos City, the assistance from Cebu and its neighboring provinces is a tangible expression of the bayanihan spirit that transcends regional boundaries.
