By CESAR JOLITO III

Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya announced that the city government will donate P2 million in financial assistance to Bogo City in Cebu province, one of the areas severely affected by the 6.9 magnitude earthquake on September 30.

Gasataya said the move underscores Bacolod’s commitment to extending solidarity and support to fellow local government units in times of crisis.

“We will turn it over as soon as we finish finalizing the process,” Gasataya told reporters, noting that the city’s department heads have already discussed the matter and are preparing the necessary paperwork.

The mayor said the aid will be sourced from the city’s donation funds, which were earlier mobilized to support disaster-affected communities.

Bacolod had previously initiated a donation drive for quake-hit areas in northern Cebu, gathering resources from various sectors and citizens.

Gasataya emphasized that Bacolod’s donation is part of a broader message of “Bayanihan beyond boundaries.”

“We know what it’s like to face disasters. This is our way of giving back and showing that Bacolodnons care,” he said.

Earlier, the Negros Occidental provincial government also committed to extend P2 million in financial aid to Bogo City, reinforcing the region’s unified effort to help their neighbors in Cebu recover.

The magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck northern Cebu last week caused significant damage to homes, schools and infrastructure in Bogo and nearby towns, prompting an immediate humanitarian response from both government and private groups./CJ, WDJ