The Aboitiz Foundation has distributed P3.3 million in home rebuilding assistance to more than 200 families in San Remigio whose houses were damaged by the powerful magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck northern Cebu in September.
Rebuilding Lives After the Quake
Among the beneficiaries is 69-year-old Lucia Agarao, who received crucial support during the distribution event on Thursday, November 27, 2025. Her home had sustained significant cracks during the seismic event that rattled the region months earlier.
Agarao expressed relief that she can now begin rebuilding her partially damaged house once construction materials become available. The assistance package includes essential construction materials, cement, and cash-for-labor support designed to help residents restore homes that were either damaged or completely destroyed by the natural disaster.
Comprehensive Assistance Package
According to Fred Dalumpines, impact lead for climate action at Aboitiz Foundation, the program benefits 225 families in total. 168 households are classified as having partial damage, while 57 families lost their homes completely.
The assistance is carefully structured to address different levels of need. Families with partially damaged houses receive P10,000 in total aid, consisting of P3,500 worth of cement, P3,500 worth of construction materials, and P3,000 in cash for labor. Those who suffered total damage to their homes receive P30,000 in assistance, including P12,000 worth of cement, P12,000 worth of construction materials, and P6,000 in cash for labor.
Dalumpines explained that beneficiaries receive a price list of materials, allowing them to choose according to their specific rebuilding requirements. Through private partnerships, these materials are offered at special, lower prices to maximize the impact of the assistance.
Collaborative Relief Efforts
Anton Perdices, chief operating officer for Distribution Utilities at Aboitiz Power, emphasized that the foundation's efforts extend beyond immediate relief goods distribution. The program focuses on helping residents rebuild their homes and restore normalcy to their lives.
Perdices noted that the most vulnerable families were identified in close coordination with San Remigio Mayor Mariano Martinez, ensuring that assistance reaches those who need it most.
In his speech, Mayor Martinez expressed profound gratitude to the Aboitiz group, recalling that Perdices had previously promised the municipality that the foundation would return with both in-kind and cash assistance for families affected by the destructive earthquake.
This rebuilding initiative represents a significant step toward recovery for the earthquake-affected communities in San Remigio, providing not just materials but hope for families working to reconstruct their homes and livelihoods after the devastating natural disaster.
