Cebu Secures ₱1.36 Billion in National Disaster Aid for Post-Earthquake Recovery
National government funding totaling ₱1.365 billion has been obtained by Cebu to restore public facilities and infrastructure ruined by Typhoon Tino and the magnitude 6.9 earthquake in 2025. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. led the ceremonial turnover of the funding at Malacañang Palace on November 5, 2026, alongside Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro and local officials.
The allocation is part of the Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Assistance Program (DRRAP), which provides direct financial assistance to local government units recovering from disasters recorded between 2024 and 2026. Nationally, the program approved ₱8.6 billion for 306 local government units, with Cebu capturing roughly 15.87 percent of that total fund. The money targets the Cebu Provincial Government, 21 local government units, and the highly urbanized cities of Cebu and Mandaue to repair damaged roads, bridges, public schools, health facilities, and municipal buildings.
Allocation Breakdown Across Towns and Cities
Damage assessment reports submitted to the Office of Civil Defense shaped how the national government distributed the grants. Bogo City pulled the largest single slice among Cebu beneficiaries at ₱180 million, earmarked specifically for its municipal hall, local government buildings, and health facilities. Liloan followed closely with ₱115 million dedicated to bridge reconstruction and its municipal hall.
Meanwhile, the Cebu Provincial Government, Cebu City, and San Remigio each secured ₱100 million. San Remigio’s share is split across two ₱50-million entries covering bridge and municipal hall rehabilitation alongside public school repairs. A total of ₱75 million was allotted to Danao City, while ₱50 million was granted individually to Borbon, Sogod, Catmon, Daanbantayan, Compostela, Consolacion, Mandaue City, Medellin, Tabogon, Tabuelan, Talisay City, and Toledo. Smaller allocations went to San Francisco at ₱25 million, Asturias and Balamban at ₱20 million each, and the island municipalities of Tudela, Pilar, and Poro at ₱10 million apiece.
Baricuatro Warns Against Corruption in Bridge Reconstruction Funds
During the Malacañang ceremony, President Marcos emphasized that the program gives local governments the flexibility to prioritize interventions based on their specific local circumstances. Governor Baricuatro noted that the injection of funds allows the capitol to complete remaining bridge reconstruction projects, adding a firm warning regarding accountability.
“This would really help us complete our recovery program, so ito gagamitin namin for the reconstruction of some bridges. So what is intended for the disaster projects should go to the projects. There’s no room for corruption.”
Baricuatro stated, as reported by the provincial Public Information Office. The provincial government previously estimated that total restoration costs for damages caused by Typhoon Tino would reach ₱11.174 billion. In the year following the September 30, 2025 earthquake, the province already disbursed ₱750 million toward recovery efforts across northern Cebu.
Beyond the DRRAP allocations, the Department of Public Works and Highways Region 7 secured an additional ₱777 million for ongoing rehabilitation work connected to the earthquake and Typhoon Tino. Combined, the DRRAP assistance and the separate DPWH funding push the newly approved recovery envelope for Cebu to ₱2.142 billion.
