“On behalf of everyone here in [Bogo City], we are very thankful for the support from All Hands & Hearts,” shared Councillor Ramil of Barangay LPC in Bogo City. “Even though many of us are still living in tents, we feel so blessed that people care and are here to help. Thank you so much.”
On the night of September 30, a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck the central Philippines off the coast of Cebu Island, the deadliest to hit the country in over a decade. The number of lives lost is still unknown, and hospitals are overwhelmed as people have come together to sift through mud and rubble, searching for signs of life. The scale of destruction is staggering, with about 18,000 homes destroyed, 450,000 people affected across Cebu Island and 38 schools damaged in Bogo City.
At the time of the earthquake, our team was already in the Philippines, building disaster-resilient and sustainable classrooms on Catanduanes Island. This ongoing presence enabled us to respond immediately when disaster struck. But reaching the affected communities was anything but simple.
Driving north out of Cebu City, the devastation quickly becomes undeniable. Entire families line the roadside under makeshift shelters, holding cardboard signs that read “We need food” and “We need water.” Even hours away from the epicenter in Bogo City, massive boulders and landslides block the roads, deep cracks split the pavement and whole sections are nearly impassable. Many communities remain cut off, and reaching them takes time and effort.
All Hands & Hearts Delivers Urgent Relief
This past week, All Hands & Hearts (AH&H) continued to meet urgent community needs through the delivery of six powerful generators, providing vital power to places where it matters most: a mobile health clinic, the Bogo Tent City for displaced families, a Barangay (village) still without electricity, the City Health Office for their daily operations, and a community water filtration system that helps restore access to clean water.
Together with our long-term, in-country partner, partner Streetlight, we also carried out a large-scale food distribution, reaching six Barangays with over 3,000 food packs, directly impacting an estimated 15,150 individuals. It was an extraordinary team effort that was planned, organized and executed hand in hand (sometimes literally!) with Streetlight.
First Relief Reaches Bogo
The first delivery of aid, that included two generators with fuel and extension cords to support more than 220 households, took place on Saturday, October 4, in Polambato Barangay, a housing community originally built for survivors of Typhoon Yolanda. Many residents had lived there for over a decade, but this week’s earthquake caused widespread structural damage, and the community was told they would once again be displaced. When our team arrived, many families were sleeping in tents or under tarps just outside their homes.
Family and hygiene products have also been purchased and are ready for distribution in the coming days, with the aim of reaching 4,000 households.
What’s Next?
As we wrap up our immediate distribution scopes, our focus now turns to ongoing assessments to determine how we can best support communities in the long term. Across northern Cebu, entire municipalities are still living in tents and under tarps. Shelter, WASH facilities and livelihoods support remain among the most urgent needs as families begin the long road to recovery. With limited international attention and few organizations currently on the ground, the need for sustained support is greater than ever.
Make a Difference
The road ahead is difficult, but the resilience of the communities we’ve met is even stronger. With your support, we’re bringing light, relief and dignity to families in Cebu.
Thank you for standing with communities in their greatest time of need.
