The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The European Union (EU) has announced 750,000 euros (about ₱50 million) in humanitarian aid for victims of the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu province on September 30, even as it assesses possible assistance for communities hit by Friday’s powerful tremors in Davao Oriental.
In a statement, the EU Delegation in Manila said the fresh funding will provide emergency shelter, clean water, sanitation, and other essential relief for families most affected by the Cebu quake, particularly those who lost their homes and remain displaced.
Of the total allocation, 250,000 euros (₱17 million) will go to the Philippine Red Cross, which will deliver cash assistance, tents, household items, and healthcare services to quake-hit families. The aid forms part of the EU’s contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
The EU Delegation also said it is closely monitoring developments in Davao Oriental, where a magnitude 7.4 offshore earthquake early Friday and a magnitude 6.9 aftershock in the evening shook large parts of Mindanao and prompted tsunami warnings.
In its statement, the EU expressed solidarity with the people of Davao Oriental and nearby provinces, assuring that it is “assessing the situation for possible further assistance” to affected families and communities.
The twin developments underscore the country’s continuing vulnerability to strong earthquakes, with the EU among the first international partners to extend support following major disasters in the Philippines.