“Hindi ito panahon ng salita, panahon ito ng gawa.”
This was the message of Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday as he visited earthquake-hit communities in Sarangani Province and General Santos City, delivering relief assistance and construction materials while renewing his call for long-term rehabilitation efforts to help affected families rebuild their lives.
Joined by Senator Robin Padilla, Cayetano visited several hard-hit communities, meeting with local officials, community leaders, and residents whose homes and livelihoods were affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao on June 8.
He reiterated his call for disaster response efforts that go beyond immediate relief and include long-term rehabilitation and recovery.
He said while relief assistance remains crucial in the aftermath of disasters, the government must ensure that families whose homes and livelihoods were affected receive sustained support until they are able to recover.
“Y’ung relief efforts maganda ‘yan, pero importante y’ung rehabilitation,” he said.
In the Municipality of Glan, Cayetano and Padilla joined local officials led by Mayor Victor James “Tata” Yap Sr., Vice Mayor Victor James “James” Yap Jr., and Congresswoman Carol Lopez in distributing assistance to families whose houses were damaged by the earthquake.
A total of 209 affected families from different barangays, received grocery packs, drinking water, rice, and construction materials to help them begin rebuilding their homes. The activity also included an interfaith prayer led by Muslim, Christian, and Catholic religious leaders.
The delegation later proceeded to the Municipality of Malapatan where assistance was distributed to 91 families. The aid package included grocery packs, rice, and construction materials intended to support early recovery efforts.
From Sarangani, the senators proceeded to Mateo Village in Barangay Lagao, General Santos City, where hundreds of families continue to bear the impact of the earthquake.
Residents received grocery packs, rice, and drinking water as local leaders shared accounts of the challenges faced by affected communities.
Cayetano said the scale of the damage highlights the need for sustained government support, noting reports that around 34,000 houses and 69 major public infrastructure in the city require rehabilitation or rebuilding.
“Gamitin ninyo kami na taga-remind sa gobyerno na kailangan i-rebuild natin [ang Mindanao]. Sabi nila, ‘Relief, Recovery, Reform.’ Maaasahan ninyo kami sa relief, sa recovery, hopefully ay makatulong kami sa reform,” he said.
He urged the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to account for the total damage and provide affected communities with clear timelines on when assistance will be delivered.
The Minority Leader has long advocated for a more comprehensive disaster management system, including the creation of an Emergency Response Department (ERD) that would oversee disaster preparedness, response, and rehabilitation.
Beginning June 9, the Offices of Senators Alan and Pia Cayetano delivered hot meals and emergency assistance to thousands of residents and frontliners in Saranggani, General Santos, and Davao Region while working with local officials to assess damage in earthquake-affected communities.