DAVAO CITY (October 2) – When a powerful magnitude 6.9 earthquake jolted Cebu Tuesday night, tremors were felt as far as Leyte and Samar. By the following morning, Davao City officials were already preparing to send help.
The City Information Office confirmed Wednesday that Davao City’s 911 Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams, along with medical and psychosocial support personnel, are ready for deployment to Cebu. “We will send help to Cebu,” the CIO said, stressing that the local government has also begun preparing food supplies for affected families.
For Davaoeños, responding to crises beyond city borders is nothing new. The city has built a reputation for mobilizing its world-class 911 emergency services to support disaster-hit communities across the country. This time, coordination is underway with the Office of Civil Defense and the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to ensure that assistance reaches those who need it most.
But the aid effort is not just coming from the city government. The Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao (CGDSEM) has also launched a humanitarian drive, calling on the public to donate relief goods. Commodore Philipps Soria, CGDSEM commander, urged agencies, partners, and ordinary citizens alike to share food packs, bottled water, hygiene kits, and other essentials.
“Our bayanihan spirit is strongest in times of adversity,” Soria said. “Through collective efforts, we can bring hope and immediate relief to our fellow citizens in Cebu.”
For families still reeling from the quake’s destruction, this surge of solidarity from the south is a reminder that even in the face of disaster, help is never too far away.
