DSWD chief visits Cebu quake survivors in tent city

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian checked the condition of residents, in a visit on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, displaced by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake who are now residing in tent city.

The tent city was pitched on October 4, 2025 in Barangay Cogon, Bogo City where displaced residents sought shelter. But before they were transferred to the tent city, residents went through an orientation on regulations, as the camp prohibits smoking, noise especially toward the midnight, among other rules.

According to the camp manager, at least 50 families or 254 individuals have been transferred to the tent city in Bogo.

An earthquake survivor said the tent city offers comfort for her and her six children.

“Okay ra man ko, komportable ra man sab sa amoa, unom (6) man ni akong anak…di pwede maglung-ag sa su’d, di pwede magsaba-saba og gabii na kaayo,” Vanessa Velasco, a quake victim, said.

“Among gikuan ba giistaran kay tulo kaayo unya magbanaw mi, magbarog mi matug, kari okay kaayo makahigda mi’g tarong,” Mary Grace Perater, another earthquake victim, said.

In Medellin town, another tent city was put up. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is working on the site development.

Volunteers have worked on pitching the tents. One of them is Arnold Vince Senining, a college student and Red Cross youth volunteer.

“Mas better ning ikaw motabang kontra sa ikaw tabangan then kuan sad nindot kaayo makatabang og tawo gud. Lami ang feeling. Bisan wa kay ikahatag nga kuan financial,” Senining said.

After his visit to the tent city in Bogo, Gatchalian met with Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro, along with mayors of the affected areas.

“You will see a steady stream of secretaries flying in and out of Cebu kasi ang utos ng ating Pangulo hindi namin kayo bibitawan hindi namin kayo iiwanan hanggang sa makatayo ulit ang mga Cebuanos,” Gatchalian said.

Baricuatro said that the tent city was a promise by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. that he has fulfilled.

“Kumbati ta magkahiusa ta sa atong pagtabang sa nga kaigsoonan diri sa Norte. I would also like to tell the people of Cebu na yung promise ng Presidente na nandito siya, national agency, nagawa nila, first yung tent city nagawa nila, yung electricity na gawin in five days and also your food packs,” Baricuatro said.

As of this writing, the affected Local Government Units are working on the complete list of individuals hit by the strong earthquake.

Aside from the tent city in Bogo and in Medellin, the third tent city will be mounted in San Remigio town where at least 50 tents will be pitched. —GMA Regional TV