Davao Oriental Extends Helping Hand to Typhoon-Ravaged Cebu
The Provincial Government of Davao Oriental is sending P1 million in financial assistance to the Province of Cebu, which suffered devastating damage from Typhoon Tino. This act of solidarity was announced in a Facebook post by the provincial government on November 17, 2025.
A Gesture of Gratitude and Shared Resilience
In their statement, the Provincial Government of Davao Oriental emphasized that helping Cebu honors the same compassion it has previously received and strengthens the collective resilience that binds Filipino communities together. The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) endorsed this assistance, describing it as a gesture of gratitude and solidarity.
The council confirmed that local recovery efforts in Davao Oriental remain fully supported and uninterrupted despite the province's own challenges. During a recent meeting, several agencies including the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), Provincial Health Office (PHO), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) District 1 provided updates on ongoing response and rehabilitation efforts in the province's earthquake-affected areas.
All partner agencies expressed support for both the province's recovery and its decision to provide aid to Cebu. The endorsement was forwarded to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for formal approval.
Cebu's Previous Assistance to Davao Oriental
This humanitarian response comes after Cebu itself provided significant aid to Davao Oriental. Despite being affected by a 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Bogo City on September 30, 2025, the Province of Cebu donated P5 million in financial assistance to Davao Oriental.
On October 14, the 17th Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Cebu passed a resolution authorizing Governor Pamela Baricuatro to donate the P5 million to the Provincial Government of Davao Oriental. The measure was certified as urgent by Baricuatro and was unanimously approved by the provincial board.
This provincial aid was separate from the Cebu City Government's earlier donation, which included P232,000 in financial assistance, 34,000 bottles of water, and other essential supplies for quake victims in Davao Oriental. Notably, Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival announced that the city's relief packs would include local products like danggit, dried mangoes, chicharon, and otap - incorporating Cebu's identity and hospitality into their aid.
Typhoon Tino's Devastating Impact on Cebu
Typhoon Tino made landfall in Cebu at 5:10 a.m. on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, causing extensive damage across the province. As of 5 p.m. on Friday, November 7, 2025, the typhoon had damaged an estimated P1.2 billion in housing infrastructure.
The City Government reported that 9,193 families comprising 34,668 individuals were affected across 80 barangays. Initial assessments indicated that approximately 6,000 houses were completely destroyed while 2,812 sustained partial damage.
Displacement was recorded in both lowland and hard-to-reach mountain barangays, including Bonbon, Toong, Sudlon 1, and Sudlon 2. In response, the City Government mobilized P25.32 million in resources including food packs, water, and medicines for immediate distribution, with the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) conducting extensive validation to manage aid distribution effectively.
The local government unit of Davao Oriental emphasized that extending aid to Cebu reflects the humanitarian principles that guide the Philippines whenever disaster strikes, stating: "When one province suffers, others step in — and Davao Oriental has been a grateful beneficiary of this national spirit in the past weeks."
