MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has directed national agencies to shift from short-term relief to full-scale rehabilitation efforts in Davao Oriental following the devastating magnitude 7.4 earthquake, vowing that government support will not cease “until normal life returns” for affected residents.
During a post-disaster briefing in Tarragona town, Marcos told local officials and evacuees that recovery operations must prioritize rebuilding communities rather than merely distributing aid.
“Hindi ito pang minsanan lamang … Wala sa amin aalis dito hangga’t lahat ng mga citizens na natamaan ay nakabalik na sa more or less na normal na buhay,” Marcos stressed.
To reinforce the province’s recovery, the President personally delivered P298 million in financial assistance to local governments hardest hit by the quake.
He said the aid would jumpstart the construction of modular shelters and the restoration of basic services.
“Sabihin ninyo sa amin. Kung kaya namin dalhin, kaya namin ibigay, gagawin namin,” Marcos told residents, urging them to voice their immediate needs.
Marcos instructed the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) to replace tent cities with more durable modular housing units.
“’Yung naging solusyon namin sa Cebu was tent city. Pero mayroon tayong mas bagong sistema,” he said, referring to the government’s previous emergency housing setup.
Construction of at least 150 modular shelters will begin this week in Davao Oriental, with the first families expected to move in as early as Monday.
Each unit will include sanitation facilities, electricity, and communal kitchens — designed to improve both comfort and safety in temporary communities.
“These modular shelters are mas matibay, mas kumportable,” the President added.
Marcos also assured that key agencies — including the Departments of Social Welfare and Development, Health, Public Works and Highways, and Human Settlements — will sustain operations in quake-affected areas until all families regain stable living conditions.
“Kayo ang nakakaalam kung saan ‘yung problema,” he said. “So long as you need food, shelter, or medicine, andito kami.”/PN
