The European Union (EU) has pledged €750,000—or roughly P50 million—in humanitarian assistance to communities devastated by the September 30 magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Cebu, while also considering emergency support for Davao Oriental following another series of powerful quakes.
In a statement released Friday, the EU Delegation in Manila said the funds will provide emergency relief to the hardest-hit families, including temporary shelters, clean water, sanitation facilities, and other life-saving assistance for displaced residents.
Of the total amount, €250,000 (about P17 million) will be channeled through the Philippine Red Cross to distribute cash aid, tents, and household essentials to families who lost their homes. The organization will also extend health and medical services to affected communities.
The EU noted that this contribution forms part of its broader support to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) managed by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), a global pool designed for rapid humanitarian response.
Beyond Cebu, the EU said it is now assessing conditions in Davao Oriental, which was jolted by a magnitude 7.4 offshore earthquake Friday morning and a 6.9 aftershock later that night—both triggering tsunami alerts and widespread evacuations.
“The European Union expresses its solidarity with the people affected by the earthquake that happened this morning in Davao Oriental and nearby areas,” the delegation said. “The EU is monitoring and assessing the situation for possible further assistance to families and communities affected by this new earthquake.”
The twin disasters, coming just weeks apart, have renewed calls for stronger global cooperation in disaster resilience, with international partners like the EU reaffirming their commitment to stand by the Philippines in times of crisis.
