Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto has mobilized the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK), the Bureau of Customs (BOC), and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to deliver cash assistance and relief support for the recovery and rehabilitation of families affected by the 6.9-magnitude earthquake in Cebu and Typhoon Ompong in Masbate.
“Agad nating pinakilos ang LANDBANK, BIR, at BOC para maghatid ng agarang tulong sa mga biktima ng lindol at bagyo. I sincerely thank all our teams, especially LANDBANK President Lynette Ortiz, BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno, and BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui, Jr., for their compassion and quick action,” Secretary Recto said.
“Patunay ito na kapag ang gobyerno ay kumikilos nang mabilis at may puso, agad nating naihahatid ang karampatang suporta sa ating mga kababayang lubos na nangangailangan,” he added.
In his capacity as LANDBANK Chairman, Secretary Recto approved the state bank’s donation of PHP 4.9 million cash assistance to support ongoing emergency relief operations, provide medical assistance, and help rebuild damaged public infrastructure in the hardest-hit areas.
Of the total amount, PHP 2 million will be extended to the Provincial Government of Cebu, PHP 1.5 million to the City Government of Bogo, PHP 500,000 to the Provincial Government of Masbate, and PHP 200,000 to the City Government of Masbate. The Municipal Governments of Uson, Dimasalang, Cawayan, Cataingan, Mandaon, Milagros, and Palanas will receive PHP 100,000 each.
Aside from the cash donation, Secretary Recto mobilized LANDBANK to ensure that its ATMs remain operational and accessible, allowing affected residents to withdraw cash and access financial assistance without disruption.
LANDBANK also distributed 2,000 food relief packs to evacuees in North Cebu, and partnered with humanitarian group Waves for Water to deploy portable water filtration systems in affected communities.
Earlier, Secretary Recto ordered the BOC to donate seized and abandoned goods to provide immediate relief to earthquake victims in Cebu.
The donation, which came mostly from the Manila International Container Port (MICP), included over 100 sacks of rice for food assistance, 56 pieces of Rapid Emergency Tents, and 1,087 pieces of assorted tents to serve as temporary shelters.
It also covered 50 units of mobile power supply to restore electricity in affected areas and one bio-toilet unit to ensure proper sanitation for displaced residents.
The BIR was also mobilized by Secretary Recto to extend the deadline for the filing and payment of taxes, as well as the submission of documents due in early October to October 31, giving taxpayers in earthquake-affected areas more time to comply without penalties.
Through a circular issued last week, Secretary Recto also ordered government financial institutions (GFIs) and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) under its supervision to expedite the mobilization of ground support and faster roll-out of services to the public in the aftermath of natural calamities.
This covers the prompt activation of calamity assistance packages such as cash aid, concessional loans, deferred payment schemes, and service subsidies. They are also instructed to fast-track the processing of insurance claims for damaged properties, assist borrowers in affected areas, and provide short-term loans for the repair of homes and the recovery of livelihoods.
The initiatives reflect the Marcos Jr. administration’s whole-of-government approach in emergency response, maximizing all available resources to deliver swift, direct, and meaningful assistance to Filipinos.
