Davao — The municipal government of Jose Abad Santos (JAS) has expressed deep gratitude to the City Government of Davao following the arrival of essential relief supplies meant for families displaced by the recent 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Mindanao. As communities struggle to recover from the devastation, the timely delivery of 11 truckloads of aid—comprising food packs and water—has served as a vital lifeline. Mayor Jason John Joyce praised the generosity of Mayor Sebastian Duterte and the people of Davao City, noting that such acts of solidarity provide much-needed hope to residents currently grappling with the aftermath of the tragedy.
Urgent Need for Shelter Solutions
Despite the appreciation for the recent food relief, Mayor Joyce highlighted that the recovery process is far from over, and the municipality now faces an urgent deficit in shelter supplies. Many families remain in need of basic necessities to protect themselves from the elements, including tents, blankets, sleeping mats, flashlights, solar lights, and tarpaulins. To facilitate the continued flow of support, the local government has designated specific drop-off points: donors can contribute at "Coloseo" and "Momo's" in Davao City, or at "J&G Propiedad" in Purok Malakas, San Isidro, General Santos City. For bulk donations, particularly water, the LGU encourages donors to coordinate directly with the Mayor’s office to ensure that supplies are efficiently routed to the areas with the highest need.
A Coordinated Regional Response
The aid provided by Davao City is part of a larger, coordinated regional recovery effort that involves 42 personnel from various city offices—including Disaster Risk Reduction and Management teams and the City Social Welfare and Development Office. These teams have been working to stabilize affected areas, transport patients to the Southern Philippines Medical Center, and facilitate the distribution of over 4,000 food packs and thousands of liters of water to hard-hit municipalities like JAS, Sarangani, and General Santos. As the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reports over 736,000 individuals affected across Mindanao, the importance of this sustained, inter-city support cannot be overstated. By maintaining a transparent and organized channel for donations, the municipal government of JAS hopes to bridge the resource gap and provide a measure of safety and dignity to every displaced family during this challenging recovery period.
