THE Office of Civil Defense (OCD) 7 has called on individual donors and organizations to coordinate their relief distribution efforts with authorities to ensure safe and efficient delivery of aid to communities affected by the recent earthquake.
OCD 7 Director Joel Erestain emphasized the importance of a systematic approach to relief operations, warning that uncoordinated efforts could cause accidents on major roads and result in the uneven distribu-
tion of aid.
“OCD Central Visayas urges donors to coordinate with authorities for organized relief distribution,” reads a portion of the agency’s statement posted on the OCD Central Office Facebook page on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025.
Over the weekend, northern Cebu experienced a traffic armageddon as public and private relief providers converged in the area.
Erestain provided a strong warning, citing specific incidents: “Nakikiusap tayo. May nakikita ako na mga truck, biglang titigil sa gitna ng daan — namimigay. Sana ayusin na lang natin. Kasi kung sino ‘yung mga [ibang] nangangailangan talaga [din], ‘di na naaabutan kasi wala [naman] sila sa kalye. At kung doon sa kalye lang, minsan baka mag-cause pa ng aksidente. Lalong-lalo na pag nasa highway. Kanina lang, papunta tayo dito, ewan ko kung napansin nila, biglang may tumigil, tapos nagbigayan. Delikado ’yan,” Erestain said.
(We are appealing to everyone. I’ve seen trucks suddenly stop in the middle of the road to give out aid. We hope this process can be organized because those who truly need help are not being reached since they are not on the roadside. If distribution is done only along the streets, it could also cause accidents, especially on the highway. Just a while ago, on our way here, a vehicle suddenly stopped and people immediately started handing out items. That is dangerous.)
The agency has also issued a public advisory encouraging donors to coordinate with the local government units of affected areas or directly with the Incident Management Team at the Bogo City Central Terminal.
“We encourage the public to lessen the distribution in major thoroughfares to avoid traffic congestion or accidents. Thank you for your continued support and understanding,” the OCD advisory read.
Erestain expressed gratitude to all donors for their willingness to help, reiterating that coordinating with authorities is essential to ensure relief operations, both government and private, are conducted safely and efficiently. / CDF