DAVAO CITY – The Davao City Council approved P3.3 million in financial assistance on Tuesday, June 30, for local government units in Davao Occidental, Sarangani Province, and General Santos City affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake on June 8.
The City Council passed seven ordinances during its regular session at Sangguniang Panglungsod under suspended rules, authorizing the release of disaster assistance from the city’s disaster funds.
The approved allocations include P1 million for Davao Occidental and P500,000 for General Santos City. The municipalities of Sarangani and Jose Abad Santos in Davao Occidental will each receive P300,000.
The municipalities of Glan, Malapatan, and Alabel in Sarangani Province will also receive P300,000 each to support rehabilitation efforts.
Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, chairperson of the Committee on Finance, Ways and Means, and Appropriations, said the assistance will come from the 30-percent Quick Response Fund component of the city’s five-percent Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund for 2026.
Alfredo Baloran, head of the Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said the financial assistance was recommended for LGUs that had declared a state of calamity following the earthquake.
Based on data presented to the City Council, Davao Occidental recorded 36,146 affected families in 82 barangays. Sarangani Province reported 99,445 affected families and 41 deaths, while General Santos City recorded 270,130 affected families and 22 fatalities. (By Ivy Tejano)
