Bogo mayor frustrated over chaotic relief aid distribution

The mayor of Bogo City, Cebu province, the hardest-hit by the Sept. 30 6.9-magnitude earthquake, has expressed frustration over what she described as chaotic distribution of relief aid.

- By CALVIN CORDOVA

Mayor Mayel Martinez aired her complaints on social media against the supposed “chaotic” and “disorganized” relief response.

“We've been through three years of Covid and many typhoons in the past. Sa tanan response efforts nato kani ang pinaka labad so far (In all of our response efforts, this is the most chaotic so far),” Martinez said.

Martinez’s rant came as the provincial government scrambles to deal with the massive traffic created by long lines of vehicles travelling to northern Cebu to deliver relief goods.

There were also reports that relief aid has been scarce in some areas.

Bogo was the epicenter of the quake that also affected the towns of Medellin, Tabuelan, San Remigio, Borbon, and Sogod, among others.

Gov. Pamela Baricuatro has appealed to private individuals and organizations to centralize the delivery of relief aid.

If possible, Baricuatro said donations should be coursed through the Capitol or other government agencies.