The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Davao Region (DSWD-Davao) has started distributing Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) assistance to families affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck parts of Davao Occidental, Sarangani, and General Santos City (GenSan).
Fast-Tracked Aid Following Secretary's Directive
Maria Isabel Lanada, director of the DSWD Disaster Response Management Bureau (DRMB), said the rollout of the ECT was fast-tracked following a directive from DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, after the agency completed distribution of food and non-food assistance to affected communities.
“Mamimigay na po kami ng emergency cash transfer sa ating mga kababayan (We will now provide emergency cash transfer to our fellow citizens),” Lanada said on June 22, 2026.
Scope of Assistance
Based on initial assessments, more than 139,000 families in the Davao Region and Soccsksargen were affected by the earthquake. DSWD has allocated ₱799.59 million for the ECT distribution this week. The agency also reported that around 84,580 houses were either totally or partially damaged.
Lanada added that Gatchalian is set to visit earthquake-affected communities on June 23, including the municipalities of Sarangani and Jose Abad Santos (JAS) in Davao Occidental, General Santos City, and Balut Island.
Early Recovery Efforts
The ECT is part of the government's early recovery efforts to help families rebuild and recover from the disaster. The cash assistance allows affected households to purchase other essential needs beyond the food and non-food items already provided by DSWD.
Earlier, during his June 13 visit to Malita, Davao Occidental, Gatchalian said the department was expediting the release of financial assistance. He noted that during a meeting with local officials of Davao Occidental and DSWD-Davao, the department had requested a list of affected families to begin distribution by June 20. The amount of assistance depends on the extent of damage in each community. The cash aid will be distributed in multiple waves to help families gradually regain financial stability.
Ongoing Shelter and Safety Measures
Meanwhile, DSWD Field Office XI has established a Tent City at Ignacia A. Guillermo Central Elementary School, one of the designated evacuation centers in Barangay Nuing, Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, providing temporary shelter to displaced families. Camp managers, together with DSWD XI personnel and barangay leaders, continue to conduct orientations and earthquake drills to keep evacuees informed, safe, and prepared.
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck offshore of Maasim, Sarangani, at 7:37 a.m. on June 8, 2026, and was felt in several parts of Mindanao. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) subsequently issued a tsunami warning following the earthquake.
