DavOcc town’s recovery shifts from relief to rebuilding on NewsLine Philippines - Building Information Highway for the Community
PBBM orders whole-of-government support as Jose Abad Santos rebuilds from quake, floods
DAVAO CITY (August 25) — For families in disaster-hit Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, government aid is shifting from keeping people afloat to helping them rebuild their homes, livelihoods and lives.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered national government agencies to sustain a whole-of-government response for the coastal town, which was battered by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake in June and later hit by landslides and flash floods during heavy monsoon rains in July.
Cabinet Secretary Benhur Abalos said the administration’s focus is now on long-term recovery—not just emergency relief.
“Sabi niya ayusin mo ang iba’t ibang departamento para maipakita natin ang pagmamahal ng gobyerno. Ito po ay whole-of-government,” Abalos said during his latest visit to the municipality over the weekend.
Fourteen national government agencies joined the latest mission, bringing assistance for housing, jobs, agriculture, livelihood, education, health and basic services.
For families who lost their homes, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development committed 100 modular shelter units, while the National Housing Authority provided cash assistance to those whose houses were totally damaged.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources committed timber for house reconstruction, while the Mines and Geosciences Bureau assessed possible relocation sites to help communities move away from danger zones.
But rebuilding homes is only half the challenge.
Families also need income.
The Department of Labor and Employment provided TUPAD cash-for-work opportunities for residents whose homes were damaged. The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority is providing livelihood training for farmers and fisherfolk, while the Department of Trade and Industry will help turn their products into marketable goods.
The Department of Agriculture distributed animals, seeds and seedlings to help farmers restart production. The Philippine Coconut Authority also provided food and non-food assistance to 1,200 coconut farmers.
Other agencies are working to restore essential services.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development extended additional cash assistance on top of support previously provided through its Emergency Cash Transfer and UPLIFT programs.
The Department of Education established Learning Continuity Spaces for children whose schools were affected, while the Department of Health continued medical and sanitation services in temporary settlements.
The Department of Public Works and Highways continued clearing roads and rivers, while the Department of Information and Communications Technology provided Starlink connectivity to selected affected communities.
Abalos said the government wants families to move beyond dependence on emergency assistance and regain stable sources of income.
“This will now be for sustainability, for job, for work,” he said, adding that government programs and opportunities would be brought closer to communities.
The government also plans similar recovery assessments in other affected areas, including Glan and Malapatan.
For Jose Abad Santos, the rebuilding effort comes after a year of repeated disasters that tested the town’s homes, livelihoods and resilience.
The challenge now is to ensure that aid does not end when the headlines fade.
The goal, officials said, is not simply to help families survive the disaster—but to help them stand on their feet again.
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DavOcc town’s recovery shifts from relief to rebuilding
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